Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
The Abia State Government says it will soon unveil the State’s 25-Year Growth and Development Plan.
According to the government, the plan is “a strategic, future-proof document that will articulate the state’s development trajectory for the next 25 years.”
Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, disclosed this while briefing journalists at Government House, Umuahia, on the outcome of this week’s Executive Council meeting presided over by Governor Alex Otti.
Kanu, who lamented the absence of any existing development plan in the state, reaffirmed the resolve of the Otti-led administration to lay a solid foundation for meaningful and enduring infrastructural development.
“The plan will outline short-, medium- and long-term aggregate growth in a sequential progression, with the ultimate goal of developing the state in a structured manner, irrespective of the administration in power.
“The document will also include funding pathways for the plan. Upon its unveiling, necessary legal backing will be provided to ensure that it runs its full course,” he said.
Kanu further revealed that the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education had successfully conducted the first statewide annual school census, capturing 4,150 schools, 1,687,326 learners, and 45,151 staff.
He noted that although many private school proprietors were initially reluctant to disclose enrollment data, the census still achieved major milestones, including the distribution of 1,221 Android tablets to school heads and data officers.
“For the first time, all schools uploaded their data digitally via the National Education Management Information System (NEMIS) platform,” he said.
He added that the state’s adult and non-formal education programme is now fully operational, providing citizens who missed early educational opportunities a second chance to learn and become employable.
On infrastructure, the Commissioner disclosed that the Ministry of Works is currently executing direct-labour projects in 50 locations—five of which have been completed—while seven new sites were recently added to the maintenance schedule.
He listed the completed works to include repairs on internal roads at the Federal Medical Centre (2.1 km); construction of Road 11 in the low-cost housing estate; maintenance of Bende–Itumbuzo Road Phase 1; repairs on Enugu–Ugwu Road; and rehabilitation of roads in the World Bank Housing Estate, including Health Centre Road, Umuahia.
The newly added direct-labour projects, he said, include upgrades on Ikonne Street in Aba, Nzeadibe Street in Umuahia, and a road at Mater Dei Catholic Cathedral, Umuahia, among others. Contractors have been directed to accelerate work and make maximum use of the dry season to complete most projects before the next rainy season.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Mr. Ferdinand Ekeoma, and the General Manager of the Umuahia Capital Development Authority, Mr. Kingsley Agomuo, were also present at the briefing.
