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!
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.