Abia State Government has announced the payment of ₦4.1 billion as counterpart funding for the World Bank-supported Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP).
The Commissioner for information Prince Okey Kanu disclosed this while briefing Journalists on the outcome of this week’s State Executive Council meeting presided over by Governor Alex Otti.
Prince Kanu who underscored the Governor’s commitment to the infrastructure development of rural communities across the State revealed that under the Programme, 11 rural roads and three agro-logistics hubs would soon be flagged off by Governor Otti.
“As part of the requirements for this World Bank Assisted Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project, the State Government has so far paid a total of 4.1 billion Naira as counterpart funding.
“This underscores the Governor’s commitment to statewide infrastructure-led development of our rural communities”, Prince Kanu emphasized.
The Commissioner revealed that the projects which are designed to boost access to markets and agricultural productivity, are distributed across the 17 local government areas of the State.
He noted that the agro-logistics hubs are sited at Obinto in Arochukwu, Eke Uzuakoli in Bende, and Ndioru in Ikwuano local government areas while the rural roads, cut across various communities to enhance connectivity and economic activity in the hinterlands.
Prince Kanu announced that the formal flag-off of the $1.3 billion Abia Medical City project will take place on 10 July 2025.
According to the Commissioner, Governor Otti would perform the groundbreaking ceremony of the mega facility, billed to transform Abia State into a leading destination for advanced medical services in Nigeria and the West African sub-region.
He emphasized that the flagship project, which occupies a 200-hectare land space, will feature a 1,000-bed capacity hospital with state-of-the-art medical equipment, a five-star hotel, accommodation for patients and their families, as well as facilities aimed at promoting medical tourism.
“We have it on record that that flagship project, when completed, will transform the state into a major hub for advanced medical services”, he said.
He noted that the Abia Medical City is being executed through a build-operate-transfer agreement between the State Government and MKP International Holding adding that the State has provided land and its reputation as part of the partnership.
According to the Commissioner, the access route to the facility, is nearing completion which he said is “another pointer to the present administration’s commitment to realising the project within its scheduled 24-month delivery period”.
“That’s a signature project that will ultimately reverse medical tourism not just in Abia State but in the whole of Nigeria and the West African sub-region”, he added.
Prince Kanu announced that the ceremony marking the formal reintroduction of Sanitary Inspectors popularly known as ” Ndi Oleala”, another initiative towards deepening the success already recorded in the area of environmental cleanliness will hold on Thursday this week.
He said that the scheme would be extended to all 17 local government areas to ensure that communities benefit directly from the presence and activities of sanitary inspectors.
He said that the road maintenance work of the State Government has continued unabated with two recently completed work on the 11.4 kilometer Nkwoegwu -Afugiri -Umuyota road in Umuahia North LGA and the 1-kilometre Ahiama-Umuikaa Okwu Olokoro road in Umuahia South.
Prince Kanu announced that the Abia State Environmental Protection Agency (ASEPA) has expanded its operations to all three senatorial zones, covering many communities adding that the State Government has also deployed 26 new waste receptacles fabricated by the Ogbonnaya Onu Polytechnic, Aba, in addition to desilting stormwater channels to prevent flooding during the rainy season.
On Security, the Commissioner said that a member of one of the cult groups that matcheted a resident around Imo Lane,off Uzuakoli road Umuahia while trying to run away was hit by bullet from men of the Operation Crush who arrived the scene through a tip -off.
“In an attempt to stop them, Operation Crush fired some warning shots and one of the fleeing cult members was hit by a bullet.
“Operation Crush succeeded in arresting a member of a gang who is in custody now and is helping the police with their investigations.
He said that the macheted victim is currently receiving medical attention, while the body of the deceased suspect has been deposited in the morgue.
“Ordinarily, we would have waited for the police to conclude their investigations, but for the fake news and wrong narratives that have heralded the unfortunate incident across certain media channels.
“The sponsors of such reports are meant to deceive members of the public into believing that Operation Crush shot at an innocent bystander or citizen. Nothing could be further from the truth”, Prince Kanu stated.
He assured that updates on the incident would be communicated to the public as investigations progress.
