The Chairman of Igbo-Etiti Local Government Area, Dr Eric Odo, has presented 12 operational vehicles to enhance operational and security efficiency in the council area.
Presenting the vehicles on Wednesday at the Council Headquarters in Ogbede, Odo said the gesture was in line with the local government’s commitment to enhance efficiency and promote the well-being of its residents.
The Chairman said that the vehicles comprised two Hilux jeeps and 10 Sienna cars, adding that the two Hilux jeeps would help security personnel to patrol the area effectively.
Among the two Hilux jeeps, one was donated to the Nigeria Police and another to the Nigerian Army operations in the council, while the 10 Sienna went to various departments and special monitoring committees within the council area.
According to Odo, this will make them to urgently respond to any distress call in Igbo-Etiti, even as our administration is committed to providing a safe environment for business owners and investors to conduct their activities unhindered.
He vowed to ensure that Igbo-Etiti maintain its stance on zero insecurity, adding that the council would partner the state government to tackle the incidence of kidnapping and other criminal activities.
“We have declared the forests of Agu Ekwegbe, Agu Umunko, Agu Ukehe all the way to Agu Opi and Awhum, no terrorist zone for kidnappers and criminals.
“In that regard, conscious efforts have been made by the state government in collaboration with the council to ensure the forests are properly manned and pinned down.
“And if we are to consolidate on that, it is important to support the security personnel to do their jobs.
“That informed the reason why we are providing the security vehicles to the Divisional Police Office in Ogbede to help them do their work well," he said.
Odo said the council had provided the Forest Guard and the Neighbourhood Watch with various gadgets to enable them do their jobs better as at February, 2025.
“Due to the crisis that bedeviled Aku and Ikolo communities, we have made arrangements to have a standpoint of soldiers along that road,” Odo hinted.
The council boss revealed that every department in the council including Health, WASH, Education, Agriculture and others would get operational vehicles to enhance their efficiency, which he stressed was the core mandate of his administration.
“It is our desire to ensure 100 per cent effectiveness in the administration of Igbo-Etiti Local Government.
“This is the reason we have provided Sienna vehicles as operational vehicles to various departments, so that at any point when any of their services are needed, there should be no complaint of lack of mobility,” he said.
He cautioned against reckless use of the vehicles, warning that anyone who misused or damaged any of the vehicles would be held accountable.
