◼️Vows to take drastic action against culprits
From Mark Chukwu, Umuahia
The government of Abia State has warned those behind false publications on the state Governor, Dr.Alex Otti, to desist from such falsehood or face the consequences.
Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu disclosed this last Monday at the Government House, Umuahia, while briefing newsmen on the outcome of the week’s State Executive Council meeting presided over by the Governor.
He explained that Governor Otti appointed Chief Economic Adviser and also set up the State economic Management team, adding that he has sworn in the Chief Economic adviser to the state government Dr. Friday Kanu Ohuche, a seasoned development economist who specializes in institutions and micro economics. He said Dr Ohuche was a one-time lecturer and former staff of the Central Bank of Nigeria and World Bank.
The Governor also used the medium to inaugurate the Abia State Economic Management team whose primary mandate is to give advise to the Governor on economic development of the state, he is expecting the members to go over and above in their efforts to develop an idea in providing economic development of the state.
He added that Governor Otti will Chair the economic team, which is comprises amongs others, the Commissioner for Finance, Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Commissioner for Trade and Commerce. Others are the Accountant General, Chairman Board of Internal Revenue (BIR), the Principal Secretary and Chief Strategy Officer to the Governor and the Technical Adviser to the Governor.
Information Commissioner revealed that part of the state government’s agenda is to play a big role in the power sector through huge investments as well as the attraction of private capital into the power sector, adding that it would use ISA to support the state government that the Government is collaborating with International Solar Alliance to develop the Mini Grid in the state.
Prince Kanu said that, given the signing into law of the Abia State electricity law 2025, the state government is poised to explore to the fullest,the whole gamut of the state’s electricity chain in order to drive industrial growth in the state.
The state government to this effect is participating in Distributed Access to Renewable Energy scale up (DARES). This is a 750 million dollar World Bank intervention renewable energy development program.
The state government will have the opportunity to participate in this program and it will have in no measure boost the electricity sector of the state, Prince Kanu added.
Kanu also informed Abians that the recruitment exercise of the Health workers for the state ministry of Health is progressing very well, adding that the recruitment exercise is undertaken by the state Civil service Commission, adding that following the closure of application portal on the 9th of August, 2025 it has been established that a total number of 1,923 persons applied.
Continuing, Information Commissioner said that CBT test for the shortlisted Candidates will hold between 26th and 30th of August, 2025 while the successful ones will be interviewed on the 2nd and 16th of September, 2025.
He said currently the Civil Service Commission has advertised for Contract Consultants, Primary Consultants and Medical Officers,and that the portal for these applicants would close by 30th of August, 2025.
The Commissioner revealed that Abia State Environmental Management Agency (ASEPA) has deployed 2.7 tonnes receptacles around the cities of Aba and Umuahia for starters.
He noted that the receptacles are smaller in size than the normal ones that have been deployed before now, adding that the small receptacles are advantageous as they can navigate through roads and streets that are not wide.
He further informed that ASEPA has also embarked on massive clean-up of major waterways and drainages around Umuahia, particularly around Afara through Umuahia, down to Isialangwa.
