Governor Unveils Vision Corridor, Warns Drivers Against Neglecting Eye Health.
Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Chioma Otti, has announced that his administration has established 25 eye clinics and vision centres across the 17 local government areas of the state, screened 31,152 residents and performed more than 2,000 eye surgeries in a sustained effort to prevent avoidable blindness and expand access to eye care.
Governor Otti disclosed this on Thursday, October 15, 2026, during the grand finale of the 2026 World Sight Day celebration held at the Prof. Nnenna Oti Bus Terminal, Umuahia, with the theme, “Safe Eyes, Safe Roads, Safe Lives.”
The event was organised by the Abia State Eye Health Management Bureau in collaboration with the state Ministries of Transport and Health and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), in alignment with the global call to action, “Love Your Eyes.”
Represented by his Deputy, Engr. Ikechukwu Emetu, the governor reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to preventive healthcare and road safety, stressing that protecting the eyesight of motorists and transport operators was essential to safeguarding passengers, pedestrians and other road users.
Otti explained that good vision was indispensable to safe driving, enabling motorists to read road signs, judge distances, identify potential hazards and respond promptly to changing traffic conditions.
He commended the Eye Health Management Bureau and its collaborating agencies for taking eye care services directly to transport operators and members of the commuting public, urging commercial drivers to take advantage of the free screening exercise and make regular eye examinations part of their professional responsibilities.
The governor also praised the FRSC for its road safety presentation and the Safe Driver Pledge, describing the initiative as a commitment to routine eye checks, compliance with traffic regulations and responsible driving.
He maintained that investment in the health of drivers was an investment in the safety, well-being and prosperity of Abia residents.
As part of the event, Otti unveiled one of the vision corridors at the bus terminal, describing it as a lasting reminder to motorists and other road users to prioritise their eyesight, drive responsibly and protect human lives.
Earlier, the Administrator of the Abia State Eye Health Management Bureau, Dr. Betty Emeka Obasi, disclosed that the bureau had attended to more than 33,884 patients in just over two years, conducted free community eye screenings for 31,152 people and performed over 2,000 surgeries, including cataract operations.
She further revealed that more than 6,381 cases of glaucoma had been identified, warning that the disease could cause irreversible blindness if not detected and treated early.
Obasi said the establishment of 25 eye clinics and vision centres across the state had significantly expanded access to eye care, while community outreaches had brought essential services closer to residents who might otherwise delay seeking medical attention.
She explained that the choice of the Prof. Nnenna Oti Bus Terminal for the celebration was deliberate, given the large number of passengers and transport operators who pass through the facility daily.
According to her, the location provided an effective platform to educate motorists and commuters on the relationship between good eyesight and road safety.
The administrator urged commercial drivers, particularly older motorists, to undergo regular eye examinations and seek professional medical attention rather than patronise unqualified practitioners or use unprescribed eye medications.
She also called on parents and teachers to ensure that children receive regular eye examinations, noting that early detection of visual problems could improve learning outcomes and prevent avoidable complications.
Obasi attributed the bureau’s achievements to the support of Governor Otti and his administration’s commitment to transforming the state’s health sector.
In his address, the Commissioner for Health, Prof. Enoch Ogbonnaya Uche, said good vision was critical to preventing road crashes and protecting the lives of motorists, passengers and pedestrians.
Uche explained that visual impairment could undermine a driver’s ability to recognise road signs, estimate distances, identify pedestrians and react quickly to hazards, thereby increasing the likelihood of accidents.
He noted that conditions such as glaucoma and cataracts could develop gradually without obvious symptoms, making routine eye examinations necessary even for people who believed their eyesight was normal.
The health commissioner encouraged drivers to take advantage of the screening services provided at the event and seek prompt treatment whenever visual problems were detected.
He also disclosed that community eye care services had been integrated into the service plans of revitalised primary healthcare centres and other levels of healthcare delivery under the state government’s health system transformation agenda, including Project Ekwueme.
Uche emphasised the need for stronger collaboration among health institutions, transport authorities, the FRSC, transport unions and communities to improve access to eye care and promote responsible driving.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Transport, Dr. Chimezie Isaac Ukaegbu, said the state government recognised routine eye examinations as an important preventive measure within its transport management and road safety strategies
He assured that the ministry would continue to collaborate with the Eye Health Management Bureau, health institutions, transport unions and road safety agencies to promote regular vision screening and safer driving practices across the state.
Ukaegbu urged commercial drivers, tricycle operators and other motorists to prioritise eye examinations, while calling on transport unions and fleet managers to encourage periodic vision assessments among their members and employees.
In her remarks, the Abia State Sector Commander of the FRSC, Corps Commander Ngozi I. Ezeoma, warned that driving with impaired vision could result in delayed reactions, poor judgement when overtaking, failure to recognise traffic signals and an increased risk of road crashes.
She stressed that driving experience could not substitute for good eyesight and urged motorists to comply with vision assessment requirements during the driver’s licensing process.
Ezeoma also called on fleet operators and transport union leaders to incorporate periodic eye examinations into their drivers’ welfare and safety programmes.
She advised drivers experiencing blurred vision, difficulty seeing at night or other visual challenges to consult qualified eye-care professionals and avoid self-medication.
The FRSC sector commander further encouraged passengers to speak up when they observed unsafe driving practices, reaffirming the corps’ commitment to public enlightenment, stakeholder collaboration and the enforcement of road safety standards.
A major highlight of the celebration was a keynote address on World Sight Day and the theme, “Safe Eyes, Safe Roads, Safe Lives,” delivered by Dr. Ijeoma Ugboaku Alozie.
The programme also featured awards and recognition for stakeholders and partner organisations, as well as prizes for winners of an inter-school competition organised to promote eye health awareness and road safety among students.
