Anambra state Governor Chief Willie
Obiano has recorded another milestone as he launched the Anambra State City Cab
Scheme, the Anambra State Traffic Management Agency (ATMA) and the Operation
Clean & Healthy Anambra (OCHA Brigade) reports www.odogwublog.com
His speech goes thus : Eight months
into the life of my administration, I am delighted to stand before you today to
flag off three landmark initiatives that will expand the frontiers of
excellence in Anambra State. These initiatives are:
Operation Clean & Healthy
Anambra (called OCHA Brigade)
Anambra State Traffic Management
Agency (called ATMA) and
The Anambra State City Cab Scheme
The first of the three initiatives
is Operation Clean & Healthy Anambra “called OCHA” Brigade. It is
an Enforcement Unitwith a mandate to facilitate improvement in
our quality of life by enforcing environmental cleanliness, healthy
living habits, good hygiene and general orderliness in the state.
The Vision of OCHA Brigade is to:
“Become the task force most known for enforcing a clean, orderly and healthy
environment in Nigeria”
While its Mission is to: “Enforce
cleanliness and orderliness as a culture among the residents of Anambra state”
To champion this initiative, 200
youths, drafted from various ministries in the state have been properly trained
and equipped for this assignment.
OCHA Brigade is a merger of the
Enforcement Units of the Ministries of Health, Environment, Board of
Internal Revenue Services, ASUDEB/ ACDA, the advertisement agency and
ASWAMA. It represents a new enforcement model with inter-ministerial and
inter-agency relationships that present an opportunity for the state to
efficiently and effectively enforce discipline, orderliness, cleanliness and an
excellent tax payment structure.
This unit is anchored in the
Ministry of Special Duties with Mr. Kenneth Okonkwo as the pioneer
MD/Superintendent General of the Brigade.
OCHA Brigade officers will
enforce compliance to the law especially non-payment of levies issued by
the Ministries of Environment and Health, the advertisement agency,ASWAMA,
ASUDEB/ACDA & BIR; they will help in enforcing tax collection as
well as general discipline in Anambra State. OCHA Brigade activities are
backed by relevant laws of the state deriving from the MDAs mentioned
above and a public notice issued by the governor of the state. People who fail
to comply to the provisions of these laws run the risk of being arrested and
tried in a Mobile Court of Law. If found guilty, defaulters will pay a fine.
All fines will be paid directly into the state’s designated bank accounts or
via point of sale terminals accompanying the officers in the field.
In view of this development,
Ndi-Anambra and other residents are hereby advised to desist from all acts that
constitute a breach of the environmental laws of Anambra State. And because all
defaulters will be required to show evidence of having paid their taxes,
residents are advised to ensure they pay their taxes regularly.
I believe that this laudable
initiative will foster a cleaner, healthier and more orderly Anambra; a culture
worthy of an enterprising and dogged people; and an effective taskforce that
will endear the government to the people.
The second initiative
is Anambra State Traffic Management Agency (called ATMA). A drastic
reduction in the rising wave of preventable road accidents, injuries and damage
to valuable properties is the priority of my administration. As
such, the state government has createdAnambra State Traffic Management Agency
(ATMA) as an agency under the Ministry of Transport (MOT) Anambra State.
The agency has been reengineered,
restructured and charged with the administration, control and management of
road traffic matters; a system of operations that make it responsive to the
demands of traffic and to ease traffic congestion, to reduce travel delay,
improve access to commerce and industry, redirect traffic, improve the
environment, protect and enhance safety of all road users and eventually
enhance a sustainable transport system in Anambra State.
Global experience has also proven
that enforcement is the most effective and efficient strategy of ensuring
compliance to road traffic regulations and thereby mitigating road traffic
crashes, highway chaos and their disastrous consequences. It is for this reason
that 150 operatives have been trained at the highly acclaimed, internationally
recognized Traffic Management Centre of the Federal Road Safety Academy, Udi,
Enugu State.
It is expected that with the
creation of ATMA, traffic control and administration in the state will improve
considerably as operatives of the agency will fully compliment the efforts of
the Federal Road Safety Corps within the State.
The third initiative is the state’s
modern taxi scheme. The success of any business environment can be partly
attributed to the effectiveness of its transport system. It is therefore
imperative that Anambra has an effective transportation system that will uplift
our dear state into a world class business environment. It is for this reason
that the Anambra State Government in pursuit of its commitment to the welfare
of its citizen and its commitment to a modern society created the Anambra
state CITY CAB scheme.
The CITY CAB scheme is aimed at
empowering the youths of Ndi-Anambra by offering them an opportunity to own
brand new taxi cabs via a hire purchase scheme. These cabs will serve as a
means of transportation within and outside the state; and will invariably help
reduce the unemployment rate, enhance a cleaner and more efficient transport
system and eventually increase the IGR for the state. The scheme is managed
through a PPP initiative between Aquila Leasing Ltd., Emmanuella Autos and the
Ministry of Transport. Aquila is experienced in managing such schemes while
Emmanuella Autos is responsible for providing a state of the art maintenance
workshop/show room for the 200 Nissan Almera cars in Awka. This is phase 1 of
this scheme and will lead to continued improvement and modernisation of our
transportation system in Anambra state. The cab scheme has a call centre for
residents and guests to call cabs for pick ups twenty four hours a day and
using the modern vehicle tracking mechanism the Aquila team will be able to
match passengers with the cabs nearest to them at any time of the day.
In conclusion, this administration
is determined to drive economic activities using key initiatives outlined in
Anambra's Four Pillars of Development. These 3 initiatives are key parts of the
enablers outlined in my economic blueprint for delivering the dividends of
democracy.
Based on our grand vision and plan
for sustainable prosperity, building upon the potentials and capabilities of
the state, I am passionate and very enthusiastic that this administration will
transform our state to occupy its rightful place in Nigeria and Africa.
Ndi-Anambra, with our eyes on the
ball, we are more than ever before resolute to make sure we get to the Promised
Land.
Thank you for your kind attention;
God bless us all; and
May God bless Anambra State,
Chief Willie Obiano
Governor, Anambra State
This below was the
protocol he observed before performing the speech reading
A Speech by His Excellency, the
Governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano on the occasion of the Launch of
OCHA Brigade, ATMA and the Anambra State City Cab Scheme on Friday, December 5,
2014.
Your Excellency, the Deputy Governor
of Anambra State, Dr. Nkem Okeke
Your Honour, Secretary to the State
Government, Oseloka Obaze
Your Lordship, the Chief Judge of
Anambra State, Justice Peter Umeadi
The Chief of Staff, Prof Joe Asike
The Head of Service, Mr. Chidi
Ezeoke
Principal Officers and other
Executives of the Anambra State Government here present
Service Chiefs
Traditional Rulers
Gentlemen of the Press
Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen
Ndi Anambra ekenem unu
Nke onye chili ya zelu oo!
Governor Willie Obiano Launches His Police, His Brigade for clean Anambra and His Taxi Scheme
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Saturday, December 06, 2014
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