Abia State Commissioner for Information, Okey Kanu, says the state government will soon inaugurate a comprehensive 25-year greater Aba masterplan.
Kanu disclosed this while briefing newsmen at Government House Umuahia after this week’s State Executive Council meeting presided over by Governor Alex Otti.
He said the greater Aba masterplan is a long-term blueprint that will drive the sustainable development and transformation of the commercial nerve centre of the state.
The Commissioner said the initiative is as a result of a collaboration between the Greater Aba Development Authority and the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat).
According to him, the master plan would be anchored on four key pillars: – road infrastructure and connectivity, economic development, sustainable urban expansion, and flood management.
Health insurance extension
The Commissioner disclosed that enrolment in the State’s Health Insurance Scheme had reached 91,227.
He mentioned that the Ministry of Health had been given approval to extend coverage to the informal sector.
Prince Kanu announced that the newly-constructed Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the Abia State Specialist and Diagnostic Hospital is now fully operational to enhance emergency medical response and specialized surgeries.
The Commissioner disclosed that no case of Monkeypox, Cholera, Diphtheria, or Lassa fever has been confirmed in the area between Epidemiological Weeks 20 and 23.
On security, Kanu acknowledged incidents of breaches but assured that the State Government is determined to tackle the situation with a robust response.
He stated that security agencies were on high alert to maintain peace and security across the state.
Also briefing newsmen, the Commissioner for Power and Public Utilities, Ikechukwu Monday, emphasized the restoration of power supply at ABSU.
He informed that the State Government has commenced the process of transferring regulatory authority from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to the Abia State Electricity Regulatory Authority.
He added that the State Government would soon flag off the CKC Aba Water Scheme, among others.
