The Mayor of Umuahia South Local Government Area, Abia State, Engr. Phillip Enwereuzo, says his office is working closely with security agencies to curb insecurity in the council.
Speaking to journalists at the Umuahia South Council Headquarters on Monday, Enwereuzo said his office, in collaboration with the military, police, and Abia State Vigilante Services, is committed to reducing insecurity to the barest minimum.
He recalled that his office and security outfits recently curbed the activities of kidnappers, which had become prevalent in the LGA a few weeks ago.
Enwereuzo said some suspects were apprehended, handed over to the police, and are now facing prosecution in court.
He assured residents of Umuahia South that security forces would continue to show firm resistance to discourage criminal activity in the area.
On youth restiveness, he said schemes have been set up to improve youth welfare, prepare them for better opportunities, and divert them from criminal activities.
The Mayor said one of such scheme is the Abia TECHRISE initiative, which aims to train 50 youths in ICT skills. He noted that the third cohort has just been inducted.
He also recalled that the state government has made primary and junior secondary schools from JSS1 to JSS3 free, stressing that “education is power.”
Enwereuzo added that there are farming schemes in place to encourage empowerment. He cited the cocoa farming project in Nsirimo and the cassava plantation in Amakama, saying the administration is doing enough to boost the local economy.
He said the council also runs a farming demonstration site in Umuahia South where pepper and other crops are grown, and urged residents to take part and invest in agriculture.
On drug abuse, he said structures in Umuahia South that served as hideouts for drug addicts have been busted and demolished, adding that the council is leaving no stone unturned in the fight against drug abuse.
Enwereuzo said the council is also carrying out sensitisation and empowerment programmes to make youths aware of the dangers of hard drugs.
“We’ve run sensitisations in some schools in collaboration with the NDLEA, letting them know the dangers of taking hard drugs. As for the drug barons, we know they are strong, but they cannot be stronger than the government. We are monitoring them and making sure Umuahia South will not be a safe haven for drug addicts,” he said.
