Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has officially handed over five refurbished and retrofitted Armored Personnel Carrier Vehicles to the Nigerian Police Force.
During a handover ceremony at the Government House in Umuahia, Governor Otti shared that when his administration took office 20 months ago, the vehicles were in poor condition.
“When we came in exactly 20 months ago, on the 29th of May 2023, we found these vehicles in a very bad state of disrepair.” Gov Otti explained.
The Governor explained that he decided to take action to repair the vehicles, knowing that they had significant long-term potential. He added that the last vehicle had been sent to Abuja for additional repairs and refurbishment.
“Recognizing the long lifespan of these vehicles, we made a firm decision to refurbish one or two of them. As we started, we realized it wasn’t as difficult as expected, so I authorized the repair of about six vehicles,” he said.
“Five of them are now fully ready, while we’re still working on the final one. Five have been completely retrofitted and are now as good as new. It’s all about maintenance, and we are committed to ensuring that we never let our assets deteriorate again. We’ve proven that many things we discard can actually be fixed.” he said.
Emphasizing the importance of a maintenance culture, Governor Otti vowed that public assets would no longer be allowed to fall into disrepair. He also highlighted the financial resources spent on repairing the vehicles.
The Governor urged those who would be using the vehicles to ensure they are carefully handled and properly maintained.
“I urge those entrusted with these vehicles to use them responsibly and repair any issues promptly. If you don’t, you’ll end up spending two to three times more on repairs. I’m pleased we’re here today to return five fully refurbished vehicles to the police,” he said.
In his response, Abia State Commissioner of Police, CP Danladi Isa, expressed gratitude to Governor Otti for his continued support of the Nigerian Police. He acknowledged that the Governor’s efforts were widely recognized by the public.
CP Isa assured that the Armored Personnel Carriers (APCs) would enhance the police’s ability to carry out their security duties and promised that they would be put to good use.
The Secretary to Abia State Government, Prof. Kenneth Kalu, Chief of Staff to the Governor, Pastor Caleb Ajagba, Archbishop Chibuzor Opoko among other top government officials were present during the handover ceremony.
