The Abia State government has given out vehicles free of charge to the youths of Ikwuano Local Government Area as a way of reducing unemployment and alleviating poverty.
According to Governor Theodore Orji, the gesture was to create jobs, reduce idleness and criminality, enhance the standard of living and minimise accidents associated to the use of motorcycles popularly known as Okada.
A total of 30 persons including youths and women benefited from the latest gesture of the State Government.
At a ceremony to mark the handing over of the vehicles to the new owners, the Governor met with traditional rulers, amidst cheers and accolade from the people of Ikwuano.
Governor Theodore Orji, shortly after inspecting and commissioning the vehicles stated that the empowerment programme had brought joy to Abians and also helped to curb youth restiveness in the state.
On the roads of Umuahia metropolis, some of the beneficiaries,who had put their vehicles to work, thanked the government for the gesture.
Meanwhile, from Ikwuano Local Government Area, the empowerment strategy of the government to reduce unemployment continued to Umuahia South LGA.
The Governor had said that it would be sustained until all the youths in the 17 Local Government could boast of means of livelihood thereby contributing their quota to the economic development of the State.
