The Acting Commandant General of Imo Civil Guards, Mr Martin Ekeh (Ph.D), has assured Imolites of free flow of traffic during and after the festive periods, with particular emphasis on the Christmas and New Year celebrations.
Speaking exclusively with our reporter at his office, situate at Orlu road secretariat Owerri yesterday, the Mbaitoli Imo State born Lawyer and Security expert claimed that, he has introduced a lot of reforms in the traffic management and safety in the state, aimed at decongesting gridlock in Owerri and it’s environs and ensure security for Imo people.
Speaking further, Dr Ekeh hinted that his office has identified flash points where Civil Guards personnel will be drafted to ensure free flow of traffic and security of lives and property. He commended the efforts of governor, His Excellency, Chief Emeka Ihedioha, who he said has created an enabling environment for the agency to operate optimally and yield positive results.
According to him, the State’s owned paramilitary outfit, Imo Civil Guards Corps, has opened the Orlu and Okigwe zonal offices with senior personnel posted to these locations to man the affairs and supervise road and traffic safety activities there.
When reminded that before now, some of the civil guard personnel had abandoned their duties in quest of toll collection, unbridled extortion of motorists and resort to be asking for gratification which often worsen the traffic situation, he boasted that discipline and decency, have returned to the Civil Guards.
“None of our staff will be involved in that kind of unprofessional conduct again as that will attract sanction to anyone found to be doing so. We have been able to purge the outfit of bad eggs. Those who were corrupt before now have been shown the standard which I have assured Imo people that I will maintain. If you are not comfortable with it, you can leave the job”, he stated.
Ekeh said, the reform which he promised to introduce on his appointment as Acting Commandant General, saves the sum of one Million two hundred thousand naira (N1200000.00) on monthly basis for government, saying that the era of ghost workers is gone.
He further stated that the security outfit under his tenure has organized so many workshops and seminars for staff of the Civil Guards Corps and their experience are brought to bear in their activities in their respective duty posts or stations across the state today.
He then called on Imo people to comply with the safety directives given by their staff and be safety conscious, adding that most road accidents recorded during festive periods are caused by reckless driving and none adherence to safety regulation.
