C'River: Works Commissioner Decries Nonchalant Attitude Towards Government Infrastructure
By Daniel Bebia
Commissioner For Works and Infrastructure, Cross River State, Hon. Pius Ankpo has called on residents of the State to cultivate positive attitudes towards government property by ensuring it protection and sustainability.
The Commissioner made the call while on inspection to ascertain the progress of work of the ongoing recasting of dilapidated drainages system at Watt Market, Calabar
He decried the height of irresponsibility of residents in the way and manner they handle government property as shown by the indiscriminate dumping of refuse on already desilted drainage system barely a day after.
"As you can see the way and manner our people treat Government Infrastructure is really pathetic and uncalled for, just yesterday this drainages were desilted but look at the volume of waste dumped deliberately on the drains.
He said for the State to actualize it's Green Master Plan, members of the public must play their part in ensuring government property are put to good use.
"If we continue the way we are going there will be no meaningful progress, how can one continue to do one thing repeatedly, gutters that have been cleaned with the level of refuse in, we still have to go cleaning it up again. There is need for attitudinal change."
"Whatever the government is doing is for the good of the people, you can see the level of flooding experience as a result of blocked drainage, it is our utmost desire to give the best to our people, this can be possible by your encouragement and support.
He frowned at the attitudes of some people who turn a blind eye on acts that are injurious to the environment rather than cautioning or reporting to the appropriate quarters, adding that government cannot be omnipresent.
Hon. Ankpo stated that with the Otu-led administration on the speed lane to providing infrastructural development across the State, such attitudes are inimical and unhealthy for growth and development.
He called on all to rise to the occasion of securing government property, while describing governance as a relationship that both government and the governed must play parts for meaningful and visible impact.
The Works Commissioner encouraged the traders to setup a taskforce to monitor indiscriminate dumping of refuse around the markets to enhance adherence, quipping that they are the first beneficiaries of such infrastructure.
He said the State Government will constitute an enforcement team and other mechanism to ensure compliance, noting that its not meant to witch-hunt anybody.
He used the medium to appeal to residents to be patient with government in its commitment to bringing the season of sweetness to fulfilment, and assured of government's readiness to fixed all potholes in the metropolis once the rainy season is over.
