WHY ABIA IS TO PARTAKE IN WORLD BANK 700 MILLION DOLLARS SURWASH PROJECT.

WHY ABIA IS TO PARTAKE IN WORLD BANK 700 MILLION DOLLARS SURWASH PROJECT.

David Maduako –Umuahia

The Abia State Commissioner for information Prince Okey Kanu say one of the major reasons behind the selection of Abia State as one out of the six states in Nigeria to benefit from the recent World Bank $700 million dollars Sustainable Urban and Rural Water Supply Sanitation and Hygiene Project (SURWASH) is as a result of the massive transformations going on in the state.

Prince Kanu stated this while briefing Newsmen on Monday the 4th of May 2026 at the government house Umuahia on the outcome of the week’s Executive Council meeting Chaired by the state governor Dr. Alex Chioma Otti .

Prince Kanu stated that, Abia state is getting all these global recognitions and sponsorships because of the unprecedented transformation going on in the state under the leadership of Governor Alex Otti.

“The massive transformation going on in all facets of governance in the state is responsible for all the recognition from multilateral donor agencies look our way as a state.

“The USAID Small Town WASH project which was suspended by the American government some time ago has resumed under a new funder. A new funder emerged through Mercy Corps.

The USAID project he said would entail the rehabilitation of both Ubakala and Ariaria water schemes, Prince Kanu stated.

In the area of power, Prince Kanu said that, the Abia State Electricity Regulatory Authority (ASERA), has issued three interim licenses to three companies, namely, New Era, Aba power and Geometric Power.

He added that the Ohafia Power Restoration Project has reached 85% completion, revealing that the target date for completion of the project will be before the end of the second quarter of this year.

The Commissioner said the installation of a 1.8 megawatt microgrid solar power project designed to power the central bus terminals in Umuahia and Aba respectively has commenced.

According to him, “This is in line with the state government’s integrated energy transition program which is demonstrated in the acquisition of the EV buses for Abia Green Shuttle Bus Service Scheme .

Prince Kanu informed that Governor Otti has approved some new appointments, including the appointment of Professor Nneka Chioma Okoronkwo as the new Head of Abia State University Teaching Hospital, as well as Dr. Nkiru Chidia Maduekwe, as the Project Coordinator for NEWMAP under the Ministry of Environment.

He stated that the appointees would be inaugurated on Thursday this week at the Banquet Hall, Government House, Umuahia.

He disclosed that the Governor Otti-led administration would clock 3 years in this month of May.The occassion he said would be celebrated with commissioning of projects and flagging off of new projects.

An outline of the dates for the anniversary events will be made available in due course. , Prince Kanu stated.

Contributing the Commissioner for Power and Public Utilities, Engr. Ikechukwu Monday noted that the SURWASH project entails rehabilitating the water schemes to provide potable water to the people around Ubakala and Ariaria axis

According to him , work is already going on at the Ubakala site of the project.

This he described as a big milestone in the move to re- introduce potable water to homes, in the state .

For the SURWASH, he thanked Governor Otti for his commitment in fulfilling his campaign promises, particularly, in the area of provision of water .

“We have selected projects across the three senatorial zones. So, I would like to really commend the efforts of the Governor in ensuring that Abia state is part of these projects including electricity power .

He said “On power, as we know, the electricity market of Abia State has taken off fully.

last week, the Abia State Electricity Regulatory Authority ASERA issued three interim licenses to three key companies within the state. Two distribution licenses and one generation license,” Engr. Monday stated.

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