Abia Senior Citizens Centre targets support for elderly not free money distribution Kanu
Abia Senior Citizens Centre targets support for elderly not free money distribution-Kanu
Ogbonnaya Ikokwu, Umuahia
The Abia State Government has clarified that the true context, intent and content of Law No. 4 of 2025, which established the Abia State Senior Citizens Centre, is a deliberate and compassionate response by the administration of Governor Alex Otti to the growing population of elderly persons in the state.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, said the clarification had become necessary to properly inform the public and dispel misconceptions surrounding the law.
He explained that the centre is designed to address the long standing absence of a structured, government backed system dedicated to the care, welfare and social inclusion of senior citizens in Abia State.
Kanu emphasised that the Senior Citizens Centre is not a free money distribution scheme. Rather, he said, “it is a structured social welfare and support system designed to provide care, coordination, dignity and inclusion for senior citizens, not direct cash handouts,” and will operate under the supervision of the Ministry of Poverty Alleviation and Social Protection.
According to him, senior citizens have, for decades, contributed significantly to the development of communities, the economy and family life.
“However, ageing often comes with health challenges, social isolation and economic vulnerability. Law No. 4 of 2025 is therefore a social protection policy, not political symbolism, aimed at restoring dignity, care and relevance to elderly citizens,” he stated.
Kanu further explained that the law formally establishes the Abia State Senior Citizens Centre as a government recognised institution, stressing that it is neither a retirement home nor a place of abandonment.
“Rather, it serves as a coordinated hub where senior citizens can access support services, engage socially, receive guidance, participate in recreational and skills sharing activities, and benefit from structured welfare programmes.
“Through this centre, the government now has a unified platform to plan, coordinate and implement elderly focused interventions across the state, replacing the previously fragmented and informal approach to senior citizens’ welfare,” he said.
The commissioner added that the centre is mandated to promote the welfare, dignity and quality of life of senior citizens by providing social, psychological and health related support, while also serving as an advocacy platform for the protection of their rights.
He said it is empowered to develop programmes, maintain a reliable database of elderly persons, facilitate access to healthcare and social welfare schemes, and collaborate with relevant ministries, agencies, non governmental organisations, faith based organisations and development partners.
Administratively, Kanu noted that the centre will operate under the supervision of the Ministry of Poverty Alleviation and Social Protection to ensure accountability, transparency and alignment with the state’s broader social welfare policies.
Funding, he said, will be sourced through lawful budgetary allocations, grants and approved donations in line with due process.
Kanu described Law No. 4 of 2025 as a bold and humane policy choice that places Abia State among progressive states that recognise ageing as a governance issue and the need for institutionalised care for senior citizens.