Aba—The Deputy Governor of Abia State, Chief Acho Nwakanma, said in Umuahia that the administration had set up a committee to harmonise tax payment and levies.

Nwakanma made the disclosure during an interactive session in the commercial city of Aba on Monday.

He said it was necessary to stop  illegal and multiple taxes on  residents of the state, assuring that government would fix acceptable and affordable prices on shops at the free zones in Aba.

He, however, condemned the conversion of the free market zones into shops.
The deputy governor expressed the determination of the administration to reconstruct and rehabilitate all roads and infrastructure in the city.

He said that Ikot-Ekpene-Ogbor Hill road would be dualised and that the ongoing rehabilitation of Owerri- Port-Harcourt and Okigwe roads would be fast-tracked to give the people the needed access.

Nwakanma said that to actualise the dream of making Aba one of the best trading cities in the country, the  government had set up a special intervention and advocacy committee.

He expressed regrets that the bad roads in the city were caused by blocked drains.
He appealed to traders, whose shop were part of the problem to remove them forthwith.

Stressing that the administration had employed reputable contractors to give the city a face lift, Nwakanma announced that  government would close illegal parks in Aba.

Speaking at the forum, Dr Christian Okoli, Aba South Transition Committee Chairman, expressed happiness that the area was being transformed.

Also, the President of the Abia   Market Amalgamated Traders Association, Chief Ike Amobi, urged the government to do more to protect the lives of residents.

He appealed to the government to construct central parks and to  accelerate road construction.