The Abia government has donated two brand-new Toyota Hilux vehicles to the Nigeria Correctional Service and Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) to strengthen their operations in the state.

The special adviser to Governor Alex Otti on security matters, MacDonald Ubah, presented the vehicles to the agencies on Monday at the Government House, Umuahia.

Speaking at the brief handover ceremony, Mr Ubah said the donation fulfilled the governor’s promise to provide operational vehicles to the two agencies and repair some vehicles in their existing fleets.

“This is a promise fulfilled because the governor had actually said that he would support both the Federal Road Safety Corps and the Nigeria Correctional Service with a brand-new Hilux,” he said.

He said that the vehicles were expected to enhance the agencies’ operational capabilities and enable them to discharge their responsibilities more effectively.

Mr Ubah urged the FRSC to use the vehicle to reduce road crashes in the state to the barest minimum. He also charged the NCS to improve inmate supervision and ensure their prompt appearance in court when required.

Receiving the vehicle, the FRSC sector commander in Abia, Ngozi Ezeoma, thanked the governor for the gesture. Ms Ezeoma said that the donation demonstrated the state government’s commitment to protecting lives and property.

She promised that the vehicle would be properly utilised to strengthen road traffic management and safety administration in the state.

“We will ensure that road crashes are brought to the barest minimum, with zero fatalities in Abia state,” she said.

The comptroller of corrections in Abia, Blessing Iwuanyanwu, thanked the state government for providing the service with an operational vehicle.

Ms Iwuanyanwu commended the present administration for improving the NCS’s operations and welfare in the state.

She said the governor had also supported the service by providing a gate, rebuilding a damaged perimeter fence, and restoring electricity to the office.

“The office where I’m staying used to have no gate, but today, we have a gate there courtesy of the governor,” she said.

Ms Iwuanyanwu said the operational vehicle would facilitate the transportation of inmates to court as and when due.

“It will help us take our inmates to court as and when due infact the governor has also made my work easier in Abia state, and I thank him for that,” she said.

Ms Iwuanyanwu pledged to discharge her responsibilities diligently and ensure effective service delivery in Abia.

(NAN)