…Awards 11 rural roads, agro hubs
Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
The proposed $1.3 billion Medical City project by the Abia State Government, would would be flagged off by Governor Alex Otti on July 10.
Similarly, the Governor would flag off 11 new rural road projects and three agro-logistics hubs as well as markets under the World Bank Assisted Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP).
Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, who disclosed these in Umuahia during a press briefing, said they were part of deliberate strategic plans of the Governor to transform the state.
He said that the medical city project designed to reverse medical tourism in Nigeria, when completed would mark a turning point in the health sector in Africa.
According to him, the project which he said would be completed in 24 months, stands out as one of the major signature projects of the Otti-led administration.
He said: “The Abia Medical City is the signature project that will ultimately reverse medical tourism, not just in Abia State or the South-East, but in the whole of Nigeria and the West African sub-region.
“This flagship project when completed, will transform the state into a major hub for advanced medical services.
“It occupies a land space of about 200 hectares, and will feature a 1,000-bed capacity hospital, which will be equipped with state-of the-art facilities. It will also feature facilities for medical tourism, a five-star hotel complex and accommodation for both patients and their families.
He further explained that the project is a collaborative project between the Abia state government and MKP International Holdings “on a build, operate and transfer business model.”
According to him, the state government is offering “its reputation, land, and other logistics.”
He disclosed that the access road to the proposed site for the Medical City is already nearing completion.
The Commissioner said that the 11 rural roads and three agro-markets soon to be flagged-off, would cut across the three senatorial zones, and 17 local government areas of the state.
He said that the three markets are located in Obinto – in Arochukwu LGA; Uzuakoli in Bende LGA; and Ndoru in Ikwuano LGA.
According to him, the state government has so far paid a total of N4.1 billion as counterpart funding for the RAAMP projects.
“This underscores the Governor’s unwavering commitment to the statewide infrastructural development of our rural communities,” he said.
The Commissioner said that 48 roads were currently being renovated under direct labour in different locations across the state.
According to him, two have been completed while three new roads were added.
He identified the two completed roads as Agbama-Okwu-Olokoro – Umuahia South Road; and the Nkwoegwu-Afugiri-Umuyota Road – in Umuahia North Local Government Area.
The newly- added roads include: construction of Ozuama spot- Corpers’ lodge road, maintenance and asphalt overlay of Abiriba Roundabout – at Orie Akwa Junction and Senator Adolphus Wabara’s Road off IBB-Ahiaeke road, Umuahia.
He hinted the the re-introduction of Sanitary inspectors by the Abia State Environmental Sanitation Protection Agency, ASEPA, would formally be launched by the Governor on Wednesday.
This, according to him is to help sustain the tremendous successes already recorded by ASEPA in cleaning up the state.
He also announced that the agency would soon deploy 26 new receptacle trucks constructed at the Ogbonnaya Onu Polytechnic Aba, adding that ASEPA now extends its services to all three senatorial zones of the state.
Responding to an inquiry, ASEPA General Manager, Mr Ogbonnia Okereke, who was also at the briefing, said over 1000 personnel would be involved in the inspection.
He said that adequate measures had been put in place to monitor the inspectors to avoid any sharp practices, warning that anyone found compromised personnel would be seriously dealt him.
Okereke expressed delight over the recent feat by the agency as the most viable government agency in the state, saying the award had spurred them to redouble their efforts.
Commissioner for Poverty Alleviation and Social Protection, Mrs Ngozi Blessing Felix, Special Adviser on Media and Publicity Mr Ferdinand Ekeoma, and other government officials were present at the briefing.
