Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State has ordered the immediate suspension of all activities of the Imo State Environmental Transformation Commission (ENTRACO) over the illegal activities of its officials.
The agency has been in the news for the wrong reasons overt the brutal and disruptive activities of its officials which have led to the alleged deaths of some Imo residents.
In a new development, an incident involving the ENTRACO officials at St. Mulumba by Akachi Road, near First Bank in Owerri, led to the death of an Okada rider and left his passenger battling for his life in a hospital. Eyewitness account revealed that an ENTRACO vehicle chasing after people rammed into and crushed the Okada rider.
In a statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Uzodimma, , Ogowike Nwachukwu, Governor Uzodimma was quoted to have said he was not unmindful of other recent ugly incidents where the mode of operations of ENTRACO was brought to question by members of the public.
Earlier, an opposition political party in the state, the Action Peoples Party (APP) had condemned the activities of ENTRACO officials noting that the agency has brought “fear and suffering” on the citizens of the state.
According to the APP:
Part of the statement reads, “it is disheartening to note that a commission established to ensure environmental cleanliness and orderliness in line with the capital city master plan has turned itself into a vehicle for all forms of criminal extortion through intimidation and harassment of commercial road users and other vulnerable members of society.
“The people of Imo State are living in fear, and it is unacceptable that ENTRACO officials have become more notorious than armed bandits, unknown gunmen, and terrorists. We demand an immediate halt to these provocative and reckless killings of our people. The government must take responsibility for protecting its citizens and hold those responsible for these atrocities accountable.
“This entrenched culture of insensitivity, lack of empathy, high-handedness, impunity, and blatant disregard for human life, which has characterized the activities and operations of ENTRACO, questions the credibility and competence of the current leadership and management of the commission.
“We, therefore, call on Governor Uzodimma to immediately, in the best interest of Imo citizens in particular and road users in general, sack the current management of the commission for gross ineptitude, poor leadership, and lack of the prerequisite skills to manage an important people-oriented and service-driven agency of government like ENTRACO.
“The Action People’s Party (APP) stands in solidarity with the families of the victims and demands justice. We call on all well-meaning Imolites to join us in condemning these brutal killings and demanding accountability from the Uzodimma led administration in the state.”
Governor, Uzodimma, however called on residents of the state to abide by all environmental laws in the state noting that it was in the interest of the generality of the people.
At press time its not clear if the affected residents will be sued in the courts.
