The appointment by Anambra State Governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, of Mr Ossy Onuko as the Managing Director of Awka Capital Territory Development Authority (ACTDA) has been one of the best appointments by the governor. Onuko, a quiet, soft spoken, ideas driven man, is today ticking all the boxes and is quietly transforming Awka Capital City beyond being one, only in name. His many innovative ideas have brought about this happy transformation.
Awka, being one of the smallest capital cities in the country, was always going to prove difficult to beat into shape, especially given the legendary recalcitrance of the average Igbo man to accept changes that will affect his business or homestead.
Due to its compact nature, Awka Capital City is also bound to witness traffic congestions and little space for development. Thus, any attempt to expand or decongest it, will likely be met by stiff resistance and demands for payment of compensation. It therefore, requires careful, meticulous planning, tact, courage and diplomacy to navigate through the problems that are bound to come up in carrying out any “disruptive change”. But Onuko has somehow got around to doing all of these.
Gradually, things are beginning to fall into place in the capital city which now witnesses better flow of traffic except, where the police have checkpoints. This is because of alternative parks built under the supervision of ACTDA for transporters in areas notorious for traffic congestion.
There are now such parks at Kwata Junction for Keke operators; Aroma/Ekwueme Junction for shuttle bus and Keke drivers; both sides of Regina Junction and other major places. These places now witness free traffic flow in day time, thus minimizing accidents.
Onuko has also started building lock up stalls for displaced road side traders, with the first one commissioned recently, along Club Road, Awka (formerly Abakaliki Street). It is known as Solution Shopping Mall. Plans are afoot to build similar structures in other places. The result is that street traders in those areas now do their business in safety and comfort while the roads have become freer.
ACTDA, in conjunction with the Women’s Affairs Ministry, recently, carried out a raid on street beggars in major spots in Awka, especially at Aroma Junction, which was fast becoming the begging capital of the city. It was becoming an eyesore to see all manner of beggars at that spot, many of them babies and children being exploited by dubious people in the name of begging for alms.
After repeated editorials by this paper against open defecation along the gutter dividing both sides of the road at Unizik Temporary Site Junction area, ACTDA prevailed on the appropriate agency to stop the anomaly, thus saving those living and doing business in the Area of likely health hazards.
We acknowledge that it wasn’t easy achieving all these and we can easily recall the uproar caused by the initial attempts by ACTDA to effect these changes but thanks to the perseverance and courage displayed by Onuko and his officials in executing their mandate.
We are satisfied with what we’re seeing so far and are hopeful that before long, Awka will begin to look like a true capital.
We however, urge ACTDA, not to rest on its oars but to sustain the momentum. We have noticed that people occasionally defecate along that Unizik axis probably because those in charge of monitoring against that have relaxed their vigilance. They should beef up their operations there while ensuring that defaulters are punished according to the provisions of the law on open defecation. Also, beggars have started to return to Aroma Under-Bridge. There should be a follow up system to ensure that actions taken are not in vain.
Finally, while commending ACTDA on its efforts so far, we make haste to plead that their activities be carried out with a human face and that its officials do not get overzealous in the performance of their duties as that can obliterate the good work of the agency.
All in all, we are pleased with the situation on ground. Keep it up, Mr Onuko.
