Abia Govt. earmarks 55 project for commissioning, flag off
Ogbonnaya Ikokwu, Umuahia
Abia State Government will in the next few weeks commence the commissioning and flagging off of various projects across the state.
The commissioning and flagging off of the projects are part of the massive infrastructural transformation agenda of the state Governor, Alex Otti.
The Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu made this public while briefing journalists on Monday, at Government House Umuahia, on the outcome of this week’s State Executive Council meeting presided over by Otti.
He said that the project commissioning and flagging off are as promised by the governor.
“As promised by His Excellency, Dr. Alex Otti, OFR, over the next few weeks we will witness an unprecedented commissioning and flag off of projects in the state. From all indications in the next few weeks, a total number of 55 projects will either be commissioned or flagged off.
“A breakdown shows that 42 projects will be commissioned, while 13 new projects will be flagged off. This brings the number to a total of 55 in all. You will agree with me that this is quite unprecedented to say the least for a sub-national.
“This is more than an eloquent testimony of the massive transformational projects that the Abia state government, ably led by Dr. Alex Otti OFR , has been able to build in the state in the past two years,” Kanu stated.
He listed the projects to include; 17 primary health centres across 17 LGAs of the state, 14 road projects for commissioning, additional projects across different MDAs, namely; the Ministry of Power & Public Utilities, Lands and Housing, Ministry of Trade and Commerce, the Public Private Partnership office, Greater Ohafia Development Authority, and Greater Aba Development Authority, adding that, the dates, locations and venues for the events would be made public in few days’ time.
The Commissioner also informed that, the State Ministry of Health has issued an urgent health advisory regarding the outbreak of diphtheria in Imo state, which is a neighbouring state and outlined certain preventive measures.
These preventive measures according to him include; vaccination for children and vaccination for adults who are not sure of their diphtheria status, parents being vigilant to take note of any child that shows any symptoms of the disease and take him to the hospital, good hygiene practices, community vigilance among others.
Prince Kanu, who advised citizens to report any suspected case to local health authorities, urged stakeholders to help to disseminate the information and revealed that the Federal Ministry of Health has declared Abia state free of river blindness after 30 years of mass drug administration to control the disease.
The Information boss announced that the government, through the State Ministry of Transport, has established an enforcement team to enforce the driving against traffic that has become prevalent in state.
“People call it one-way driving. The government has taken time to observe how this has become a menace in our cities, particularly in Umuahia and Aba. The government has decided to stop this scourge. Driving against traffic is causing a lot of accidents across the state, and the time has come for the culprits to be apprehended.
“The enforcement of these rules will be very stringent. Offenders will be prosecuted and fined very heavily, and when you cannot pay your fines, your vehicle will be impounded.
“Over time, if you don’t pick it up, it will be auctioned. They are going to be very stringent so that people will begin to learn how to conduct themselves, drive safely in our cities, and stop endangering the lives of other road users,” Prince Kanu stated.
He disclosed that Abia State contingent recorded a total of 70 medals, comprising 12 gold, 18 silver, and 40 bronze, at the recently concluded National Sports Festival, adding that, that placed Abia on an overall ranking of 11th position on the medal table.
He also informed that the Abia State Ministry of Youth and Sports, in collaboration with the Office of the SSA to the Governor on Youth Development, will host an Abia Youth Stakeholders Town Hall Meeting in the state on the 5th of June 2025. He said that the meeting would bring together youth stakeholders to deliberate on practical solutions to the urgent issues facing the youth in the state, including unemployment, insecurity, drug abuse and other such issues.
The Commissioner for Transport, Dr. Chimezie Isaac Ukaegbu, his Youth and Sports Development counterpart, Sir Nwaobilor Nwadinma Ananaba and the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Mr Ferdinand Ekeoma were present at the briefing.