Abia Engages Imo in Economic War, Shuts down ITC in Aba, Umuahia

The Abia State Government at the weekend hit back at the Imo State Government by banning the Imo Transport Company (ITC), from operating in any part of the state, in what appears to be the commencement of an economic face-off between the two sister states.

Imo State Government had in May ejected the Abia State government-owned Abia Line Network Company (ALNC), from its loading bay in Owerri, which forced the transport company to close shop as there was no alternative location provided by the host government.

But Abia State government finally invoked a tit-for-tat response as the Chief of Staff to the governor, Mr. Cosmas Ndukwe, Sunday announced in a statement that the state government had shut down the loading bays operated by ITC in Aba and Umuahia with effect from July 6.

Ndukwe stated that the closure of ITC was “in response to the continued closure of Abia Line loading bay at Owerri without any recourse to the Abia State government”, adding that passionate appeals made to Imo State government to rescind its decision had fallen on deaf ears.

The statement further stated that security agencies were mandated to impound ITC buses found operating in any part of Abia State, including prosecuting the operator for “engaging in illegal loading bay anywhere in Abia State”.

To ensure total compliance, Abia State government warned landlords against making their properties available to serve as loading bay, saying any landlord found violating the order would lose the Certificate of Occupancy (CoU) of such property.

Abia State government had last Friday issued an ultimatum to its Imo State counterpart, saying it had till July 9, to provide ALNC an alternative loading bay in Owerri or risk the closure of ITC loading bays in the state.

In the ultimatum, which was signed by the Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the state Governor, Mr. Ugochukwu Emezue, recalled that Abia people have been facing harrowing experience travelling from Owerri to Umuahia, since ALNC was shut down in May, hence the need for Imo State to rescind its decision and restore the operations of Abia Line.

However, Abia State government did not wait for the ultimatum to expire before clamping down on ITC.

THISDAY reliably gathered from a Government House source that there was no positive signal from the Imo State government, despite the fact that Abia Line had been out of business in Imo State since May, hence the state government had to back its words with action “to drive home its point”.

The General Manager of ALNC, Mr. Ugochkwu Uwaeke, had complained about the problems faced by the transport company in Imo State, when he told journalists in Umuahia, that Abia Line had been grounded in Owerri since May on the orders of Imo State government.

He claimed that Governor Roachas Okorocha had visited the loading bay of ALNC along Wetheral Road and ordered the transport company to close shop under the guise that he was restoring the aesthetic beauty of Owerri.

However, Uwaeke alleged that the political undertone behind the action of the state government became clear when other transport companies operating on the same Wetheral Road were allowed to be doing business.

He lamented that after ejecting ALNC from its operational base, the state government refused to provide alternative loading bay for the company, despite the formal request sent to the governor to provide company with a conducive place to do its business, which was ignored.

“Agents of the same government have frustrated every effort made by the company secure another loading bay within the Imo State capital.

“In Imo State, we (Abia Line) don’t have a single place to operate our business,” Uwaeke said, adding that Okorocha “should remember that Imo and Abia States are brothers. Abia State was carved from Imo State in 1991 and in asset sharing Abia Line got 40 per cent of the vehicles in the fleet of Imo Transport Company (ITC).

Uwaeke insisted that the closure of ALNC operations in the state was unwarranted as the company had never defaulted in fulfilling its levies on tax and environmental obligations to both Owerri Municipal Council and state government.

But in a swift reaction, Imo State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Chinedu Offor, denied that the action of the government was political, saying the directive did not affect Abia Line alone.

Offor said the sacking of ANLC was in lieu with Okorocha’s agenda of recovering the master plan of Owerri, which according to him, had been distorted.

“It is not a big issue; if he (Uwaeke) has any issue we will address it, he should do the right thing,” Offor, adding, “Imo and Abia are brothers but he should be warned to desist from making careless statements.”http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/abia-engages-imo-in-economic-war-shuts-down-itc-in-aba-umuahia/152717/

Is this how we will be engaging ourselves needlessly when we eventually get Biafra?

Na waaaoooOO!!! What is wrong with ds Abia self? Last time they sack non abians in civil service and revoked the business spot of non igbo claiming it is on a bridge only to give it to one popular transport company. Now abia has gut to claim tit for tat on Imo, what an irony?

this is not abia's issue,it is Rochas who started it all,he should end it.....

Rochas started all this trash initially so if Gov TAO is doing it, i dont blame him because they deserve it.. Action Ochendo, we believe you..

The governor of both states are inbred cretins to engage in such shameful behaviour at a time like this.
The leader of ohanaeze should summon the two governors and give both of them a resounding slap.
Maybe that would jolt their addled brains to reality and commonsense.

Lack of intelligence from Imo and Abia.

Tolexander: Sign of end time!

Brother against brother!

Am afraid the eventual nations that will come out of BIAFRA will be up to its alphabetical characters(6nations)

Errmm,excuse me sir,have you forgotten the recent deportation of non-indigenous lagosians of yoruba descent by fashola.
What will you call that?
Progressiveness?

Tolexander: Sign of end time!

Brother against brother!

Am afraid the eventual nations that will come out of BIAFRA will be up to its alphabetical characters(6nations)

Errmm,excuse me "sir",have you forgotten the recent deportation of non-indigenous lagosians of yoruba descent by fashola.
What will you call that?
Progressiveness?

This post has been hidden by the poster.

*I have one Abia and One Imo babe,I don't want wahala*

The way PDP and its agents are using the media to fight Rochas should be condemned by every well meaning Igboman. We should not allow their evil strategy to blind us from reality.

http://imostate.gov.ng/new_site/imo-state-news/news_details.php?idx=governor-okorocha-commences-inspection-of-ongoing-projects-in-imo-state-7514336626045

Imo State governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha has
commenced inspection of major transformation
projects in Owerri, Orlu and Okigwe towns to
ensure their timely completion.
Last week, Governor Okorocha inspected the
ongoing beautification of Wetheral road including
the concrete cover built along drainage channels
and dwarf fence being erected along same road.
He used the opportunity to warn traders to desist
from exhibiting their wares in front of their stalls
or face confiscation of such products. He also
directed all landlords that own property along
major streets in the cities to beautify their
frontage by planting flowers and cleaning up all
rubbish in front of their buildings and to change
the old roofs of their buildings that portray a bad
picture of the city.

Speaking further during the inspection visits, the
governor announced his government’s decision to
revoke any land within the capital city that is
used for unauthorized motor parks and convert
such to public parks, stressing that his
government has revoked the land along Wetheral
road now being used as motor park by Peace Mass
Tranisit and Rivers Transport Corporation.

Also inspected by the governor last week, were
the International Conference Center at the old
IMO Hotel site, Akachi road spanning from St.
Mulumba Catholic church at Wetheral road to Aba
road (a dual carriage with concrete bridge across
Otamiri river) as well as the dualization of Aba
road from Emmanuel College, Douglas road
junction to Naze junction. He said that these
projects will be completed before November 28,
and will be commissioned as part of the new IMO
launch.
At the IBC compound in new Owerri, Governor
Okorocha inspected the ongoing construction of
an event center being handled by a Chinese firm,
as well as the building of Evan Enwerem Studio
now fully completed.
Concerning the roundabouts being constructed at
Government House, Mbaise road junction, Control
Post and Naze junction, Governor Okorocha said
they are to give the new IMO a fresh look of
international standard.
At Onitsha road, Governor Okorocha inspected a
new major dual carriage road spanning from
Onitsha road to Rapour Hotels, Orlu road/
Amakohia junction.
He warned future developers to ensure that all
structures must have the State government’s
approval in line with the city development plan
and design.

So Rochas has nothing against Abia as Orji is trying to portray. Abialine should find a place outside the city centre and open a new park.

ilugunboy: Is this how we will be engaging ourselves needlessly when we eventually get Biafra?

^^^And it's your gadem bizness because.......?

Rochas,always wanting to remain on the lime light.a great liar of our time.

Rochas is an hausa breed of imo state man. How cn sacking non indigenes be his drive for creating employment? He is a noise maker! Poverty of ideas. I dnt like ochendo either.

Is Rochas still 'beddwetting' Nkiru Sylvanus from Abia Steeht?
Abi im quarrel nor reasssh dat side?

Abagworo: The way PDP and its agents are using the media to fight Rochas should be condemned by every well meaning Igboman. We should not allow their evil strategy to blind us from reality.

http://imostate.gov.ng/new_site/imo-state-news/news_details.php?idx=governor-okorocha-commences-inspection-of-ongoing-projects-in-imo-state-7514336626045



So Rochas has nothing against Abia as Orji is trying to portray. Abialine should find a place outside the city centre and open a new park.

Be deceiving ur self na! Are there no land in owerri again? Why not the place that ITC loads? It was a delibrate and calculated operation

Do you think that Obama will wake up one morning to issue a degree against Chinese companies or their affiliates without due consultation with Chinese Government?

It was very wrong of Rochas to assume himself the position of God hence he was cut to size by T. A. Orji.

ITC makes more money than Abia Line in this symbiotic business relationship.

Abagworo: The way PDP and its agents are using the media to fight Rochas should be condemned by every well meaning Igboman. We should not allow their evil strategy to blind us from reality.

http://imostate.gov.ng/new_site/imo-state-news/news_details.php?idx=governor-okorocha-commences-inspection-of-ongoing-projects-in-imo-state-7514336626045

UdekeJ: Rochas is an hausa breed of imo state man. How cn sacking non indigenes be his drive for creating employment? He is a noise maker! Poverty of ideas. I dnt like ochendo either.

Contrary to the manipulated portrayal by the media, Rochas has been quiet for more than a year. He has no propaganda press like Akwa-Ibom showcasing his infrastructural achievements as well as a lot of things he has done. Anyone who doubts me should just show me any Imo government or Rochas owned media propagating his good works. Even here on Nairaland, he has no paid agent like other Governors.

ITC park at Osisioma in Abia was closed down for the same reason Rochas closed down Abialine, which is beautification.

Mr man I am nearer to Rochas than you and I am his fan also but on this one he failed in all ramifications.

Abia Line went from Wetheral to MCC Road then to Egbu Road where Luxury Buses load and back to MCC then to Wetheral. They are being witch-hunted by Imo State Administrators to avoid equal competition with ITC

You should know better, Rochas gave ITC unrealisable
target hence he is trying to help them beat competition.

Abagworo:

Contrary to the manipulated portrayal by the media, Rochas has been quiet for more than a year. He has no propaganda press like Akwa-Ibom showcasing his infrastructural achievements as well as a lot of things he has done. Anyone who doubts me should just show me any Imo government or Rochas owned media propagating his good works. Even here on Nairaland, he has no paid agent like other Governors.

ITC park at Osisioma in Abia was closed down for the same reason Rochas closed down Abialine, which is beautification.

Ngwakwe: Mr man I am nearer to Rochas than you and I am his fan also but on this one he failed in all ramifications.

Abia Line went from Wetheral to MCC Road then to Egbu Road where Luxury Buses load and back to MCC then to Wetheral. They are being witch-hunted by Imo State Administrators to avoid equal competition with ITC

You should know better, Rochas gave ITC unrealisable
target hence he is trying to help them beat competition.

Everywhere you mentioned is inside the metropolis and I doubt they can get any space good enough for park. The best Rochas can do is to give them space inside ITC which I doubt ITC will accept since they ply same route. Be logical here. The only suitable places with space are Nazi, Egbu village or maybe towards Obirinze on Port Harcourt Road.

Ochendo and Owelle are in the same boat and so is Enugu whom after its creation fired all civil servants of Anambra extraction. Look at how you people are tarnishing the image of the Igbo populace. I don't wanna ever see anybody from the aforementioned states say any negative thing about the person of Okwute Ndigbo. You people has proved to the general Igbo that you are the weak link. Y'all mudafokers need to bow to Umu-Omanbala because without us Igbo is dead.

You are taking irresponsible side in a matter you know nothing about.

Goodluck to you and Rochas. If you so desire tell Orji to push ITC to Onicha Ngwa and remove it from Factory Road.

Probably, you telling me that Wetheral Road is more strategic and better than Factory Road where ITC park is located opposite PZ commercial?

Na waa for you. We will see who will give up.

Abagworo:

Everywhere you mentioned is inside the metropolis and I doubt they can get any space good enough for park. The best Rochas can do is to give them space inside ITC which I doubt ITC will accept since they ply same route. Be logical here. The only suitable places with space are Nazi, Egbu village or maybe towards Obirinze on Port Harcourt Road.

Just a small taste of things to come inside
[size=25pt]Federal Republic of Biafra[/size].
Trust me !