Abia Gains Global Recognition, Selected for $700 Million SURWASH Project

Abia State is attracting increasing global recognition and development support due to the ongoing transformation under the leadership of Governor Alex Otti.

Following these developments, the state has been selected as one of six beneficiaries of the $700 million Sustainable Urban, Rural Water Supply, Sanitation, and Hygiene (SURWASH) project funded by the World Bank.

In a statement issued on Monday, the Head of Department (Information), Government House Umuahia, Divine Nwankwo, said 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 noted that Abia State’s growing global recognition and access to sponsorships stem from the significant transformation taking place across various sectors under the current administration.

“The massive transformation across all facets of governance in the state is responsible for the increasing recognition from multilateral donor agencies, which are now turning their attention to Abia,” he said.

He further revealed that the USAID Small Town WASH project, which had previously been suspended by the United States government, has now resumed under a new funding arrangement through Mercy Corps.

According to him, the project will involve the rehabilitation of the Ubakala and Ariaria water schemes.

Speaking on developments in the power sector, Prince Kanu disclosed that the Abia State Electricity Regulatory Agency (ASERA) has issued three interim licences to New Era, Aba Power, and Geometric Power.

He added that the Ohafia Power Restoration Project has reached 85 percent completion and is expected to be completed before the end of the second quarter of the year.

The Commissioner also announced that the installation of a 1.8-megawatt microgrid solar power project to supply electricity to central bus terminals in Umuahia and Aba has commenced.

“This initiative aligns with the state government’s integrated energy transition programme, as demonstrated by the acquisition of electric vehicles for the Abia Green Shuttle Bus Service Scheme,” he said.

Prince Kanu further disclosed that Governor Otti has approved new appointments, including Professor Nneka Chioma Okoronkwo as Chief Medical Director of Abia State University Teaching Hospital, and Dr Nkiru Chidia Maduekwe as Project Coordinator for NEWMAP under the Ministry of Environment.

He stated that the appointees will be formally inaugurated by the Governor on Thursday at the Banquet Hall, Government House, Umuahia.

Kanu also noted that the Otti-led administration will mark its third anniversary this May. He explained that, in keeping with its tradition, the government will commemorate the occasion through the commissioning of completed projects and the flag-off of new ones, rather than elaborate celebrations.

“The third anniversary will provide an opportunity for the state government to commission completed projects and flag off new ones across the three senatorial zones. Details of the event schedule will be announced in due course,” he added.

Also speaking, the Commissioner for Power and Public Utilities, Engr Ikechukwu Monday, explained that the SURWASH project includes the rehabilitation of water schemes to ensure the provision of potable water to residents in the Ubakala and Ariaria areas.

“For the Ariaria water scheme, the plan is to connect it to the storage facility in Okigwe road (Aba). We are also working towards integrating these water schemes to ensure sustainable pipe-borne water supply across the state,” he said.

He confirmed that contractors are already on site in Ubakala, describing the project as a major milestone in restoring potable water supply to households across Abia State.

Engr Monday commended Governor Otti for his commitment to fulfilling campaign promises, particularly in the area of water provision.

“We have selected projects across the three senatorial zones, and I commend the Governor for ensuring that Abia State benefits from this initiative,” he said.

He further noted that the state’s electricity market is now fully operational, adding that ASERA recently issued two distribution licences and one generation licence to key operators within the state.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Mr Ferdinand Ekeoma, was also present at the post-Executive Council press briefing.