ABSOA Continues to Rally Abians for Road Safety and Substance Abuse Awareness

The Abia State Orientation Agency (ABSOA), under the leadership of Acting Director General Urena Abazie, has reinforced its commitment to promoting road safety, tackling substance abuse, and eliminating street trading. In a town hall meeting held on October 24, 2024, at Eldorado Hotels and Event Centre in Aba, Abazie rallied Abians to support the government's initiative to address these social issues under the theme "Abia's Future Begins with Safe Roads; Stop Substance Abuse and Street Trading.ÔÇØ

[caption id="attachment_183931" align="alignnone" width="960"] (M) Urena Abazie - Acting Director General Abia State Orientation Agency (ABSOA)[/caption]

This town hall meeting followed a previous gathering on October 8 in Umuahia, which All Facts Newspaper covered in depth. Abazie's address reiterated the state's priority to reduce negative behaviors that compromise public safety and road infrastructure, a stance previously highlighted in All Facts Newspaper's coverage.

"Our streets must be safe and clean,ÔÇØ Abazie emphasized, pointing to the efforts of Governor Alex Otti's administration in infrastructure and road development. "While the government builds and maintains roads, it is up to each resident to respect these spaces by avoiding reckless driving, littering, and unsafe practices that endanger lives.ÔÇØ

The ABSOA initiative aims to address behaviors that obstruct the state's progress, including reckless driving, substance abuse, distracted driving, and illegal street trading. The campaign also tackles the misuse of public spaces, such as dumping waste on roads and waterways, which threatens public health and road quality.

In collaboration with the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), the ABSOA has begun educational outreach programs designed to raise awareness about road safety and the risks associated with substance abuse. This initiative seeks to engage vehicle owners, youth, market traders, and pedestrians across the state. Abazie emphasized that this combined approach, involving both the government and the community, is critical to achieving long-term improvements in Abia's public safety.

"Governor Otti's administration envisions a new Abia-a clean, healthy, and safe state,ÔÇØ Abazie noted, urging Abians to take responsibility and spread the campaign message to their communities. "Together, we can shape a safer future for Abia by rejecting harmful behaviors and embracing positive change.ÔÇØ

The session concluded with a call for participants to act as "agents of changeÔÇØ in their communities, amplifying the message of safety and responsible citizenship across Abia. Abazie's words, "Abia Ohuru, Isokwa?ÔÇØ resonated as a unifying call to action, encapsulating the state's commitment to progress and safety.

As the state heads toward a new era of safety, ABSOA's campaign has become a landmark movement, setting Abia on the path to becoming a model state for infrastructural and social reform.