Allah-jabu lays plans to transform Juba City

The new mayor of Juba City Council, Michael Thomas Allah-jabu, has unveiled expansive plans for transforming the city barely a week after taking over.

In an interview with Eye Radio on Monday, which was shared on the Youtube platform, the mayor vowed to fix the broken relationship between the Juba City Council and the business community in Juba.

Allah-jabu listed 20 priorities of his administration, including constructing orphanages for homeless children and those who have lost their parents. He also pledged support for people with disabilities.

“We have to establish orphanages and street boys’ centres to relieve congestion in Juba Teaching Hospital,” he said.

He also promised to improve the administrative functions at Juba City Council through the application of digitalised revenue collection.

He promised that his administration would remove the unnecessary fines and would lower exorbitant commodity prices.

“Implementation of those plans is not just a nightmare, it is a procedural activity because development is not always done in one day. We will pick up according to the priorities, and we also have to be committed and cooperative with the other stakeholders related to all those activities, ” he said.

Time to consult

“That is not fair of the state authorities to give us a push-up because we will not be working alone as the city. We shall not be isolated from the state and even the national government.”

Whatever we feel is related to national (government), or related to the state; we shall consult them. “

Mayor Allah-jabu also promised to name roads, introduce taxi services to mitigate accidents related to Boda Boda riders and provide clean water.

Other plans are about transforming the image of the city, making Juba clean, improving security and promoting peace, improving education and health, and promoting women’s and youth activities.

‘Correct mistakes’

During the swearing-in ceremony of the new mayor, the Governor of Central Equatoria State, Emmanuel Adil Anthony, cast blame on the former Mayor, Kalisto Lado over high taxes and fines levied on traders during his tenure.

He directed Alla-jabu to continue with the demolition exercise but in cooperation with the line ministries.

 “Please continue with the opening up of the roads because I do not want this program to stop. Let it continue, then you reorganise the market.

“But coordinate with the line institutions (like) the Ministry of Housing and the Ministry of Roads (to) know the dimensions of the roads so that you do not victimize people,” he cautioned.

He urged the JCC officials to create a good relationship with the public through supportive activities.

The new mayor promised to continue with the demolition of structures erected on public roads when he took the oath last week.

“Demolition and other programs to keep Juba City clean will continue as normal. “No slumber as the aim is to make the capital city one of the best, ” he said.

“I promise to deliver my duties under the mandate of the Juba City Council as stipulated by the local government Act 2009. I will also cooperate with all our city stakeholders, businessmen, investors, and line ministries, together with other related government institutions. “

But while responding to the criticism last week, Kalisto said he was a law implementer and had been given the job to please everybody. He added that he could not regret his actions while he was in the JCC office.

“I am proud, I came proud and I am going back proud. I remain the messenger and son of Central Equatoria State. South Sudan must be organised whether people like it or not,” he confided after he was relieved of his duties.