The Abia State Government has announced a packed week of high-profile events headlined by a South-East Security Summit, the 60th memorial of Nigeria’s first Military Head of State, and the handover of a new Nigerian Air Force complex.

The Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, disclosed this while briefing journalists on the outcome of this week’s State Executive Council meeting  chaired by Governor Alex Otti.

Prince Kanu said Abia will host a high-level South-East Security Summit on Thursday, July 30, 2026, at the International Conference Centre, Umuahia

The summit, themed Collaborative Approaches to Strengthening Security and Regional Stability is aimed at bringing together key stakeholders to deliberate on regional security strategies.

He said the summit will attract Governors of the five South-East states, the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, as Special Guest of Honour, while former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika (Rtd.), will deliver the keynote address and Governor Alex Otti will be the host.

The summit underscores the commitment of the South-East Governors to fostering stronger regional cooperation in addressing security challenges and promoting lasting peace and stability,Prince Kanu stated.

The Commissioner also announced that Governor Alex Otti will  lead eminent Nigerians to commemorate the 60th memorial anniversary of Nigeria’s first Military Head of State, Major General Johnson Thomas Umunnakwe Aguiyi-Ironsi.

Activities include a wreath-laying ceremony at the late General’s tomb at the Aguiyi-Ironsi Conference Centre, followed by a reception with tributes at the International Conference Centre, Umuahia.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is the Special Guest of Honour, while former President Olusegun Obasanjo will attend as Guest of Honour. Governor Alex Otti is the Chief Host while Igwe Nnaemeka Alfred Achebe will be the royal father of the day,Kanu said.

On Friday, July 31, 2026, Governor Otti will formally hand over the newly constructed Nigerian Air Force Administrative Complex in Umuahia to the NAF.The ceremony will also be attended by the Minister of Defence, the Chief of Air Staff and other senior military officers.

Prince Kanu said the Executive Council reviewed the Ministry of Health’s annual performance and noted massive transformation across the sector. Key achievements include: 148 Primary Healthcare Centres fully functionalised, with 3 more this week and 35 others being equipped.
Increased hospital utilisation and reduction in maternal mortality.
Expansion of digital health initiatives and strengthened global partnerships.
233,000 beneficiaries enrolled in the Abia State Health Insurance Scheme since its 2025 launch. Government is developing strategies to extend coverage to more indigent residents.

On public health, the Commissioner assured that no cases of Ebola, Lassa fever, COVID-19, cholera, diphtheria, Mpox or yellow fever were recorded in the state during the period under review.

In a bid to expand access to education, the Abia State Government conducted the 2026 First School Leaving Certificate examination for 34 inmates across correctional centres.15 inmates from Umuahia Correctional Centre and 19 from Aba Correctional Centre participated, Kanu said. The exercise was facilitated by the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education through the Abia State Agency for Mass Literacy, Adult and Non-Formal Education.

The correctional walls are no barriers to the acquisition of education in Abia State. Every citizen deserves a second chance through education,he added.

The Special Adviser on Basic and Secondary Education, Sir Kenechukwu Nwosu, said the Agency has been revived to deliver quality education to adults and disadvantaged groups, with instructors and materials deployed to correctional centres.

Governor Otti is set to sign the Abia State Climate Change Policy Document, a landmark policy expected to position the state for global climate financing.

Once operational, the international community will begin to take Abia State more seriously in climate action, opening up several climate funding opportunities, Kanu said. The policy will address flooding, erosion, heat waves and food insecurity.

The Governor has also directed immediate intervention at the Amamba-Uzuakoli flood/erosion site in Bende LGA ,and the Ipupe-Ubakala flood site in Umuahia South LGA. Engineers have completed on-the-spot assessments and remediation works will commence immediately.

On sanitation, the Ministry of Environment visited 103 communities, inspected over 9,000 premises, issued 37,500 abatement notices, and recorded compliance in 2,500 premises after follow-ups. These efforts have continued to keep Abia among the cleanest states in Nigeria, Kanu restated.

The Ministry, in collaboration with the National Mathematical Centre, Abuja, organised the maiden 2026 Abia State Mathematics Kings and Queens Competition, which attracted over 600 pupils and students from public and private schools across the state.

Governor Alex Otti has attributed Abia State’s emergence as Nigeria’s third most improved state in the 2026 Phillips Consulting State Performance Index to his administration’s strategic investments in healthcare, education, infrastructure.
Also his governance and the growing collaboration with the Federal Government, including the recent visit of the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.

Speaking during the July edition of his monthly media chat at the Government House, Umuahia, Governor Otti described the latest ranking as a clear validation of his administration’s reforms.

The Governor said the progress reflects the positive impact of government policies on the lives of Abians.
The first Abia citizen noted that Abia has made one of the most remarkable improvements in the country’s performance ranking, rising from 36th position in 2024 to 10th in 2025, and now 3rd in the 2026 Phillips Consulting State Performance Index, behind only Enugu and Jigawa States.

Governor Otti said the state’s transformation has been driven by sustained investments in critical sectors, particularly healthcare, education, infrastructure, land administration and economic development.

Highlighting achievements in the health sector, he disclosed that Abia recorded one of Nigeria’s best performances in reducing maternal and infant mortality in the first quarter of 2026, while enrolment into the Abia State Health Insurance Scheme continues to increase.

According to him, 144 of the state’s 200 Primary Healthcare Centres have been fully functionalised, while 77 additional health facilities renovated through the World Bank intervention have also been completed, with about 30 more centres expected to become operational soon.

On transportation and infrastructure, Governor Otti announced that the state has received 20 additional electric buses, which would operate on routes including Umuahia–Bende–Arochukwu, Umuahia–Uturu (ABSU), Umuahia–Umudike–Ikwuano, Aba–Owerri and Aba–Ukwa. He added that surveillance systems have been installed in the buses to ensure accountability and improve service delivery.

The Governor further disclosed that work is progressing steadily on the Aba Bus Terminal, while the first phase of the Ekeoma Market remodelling has been completed and would soon be commissioned.
In the area of land administration, Governor Otti said the government has issued 4,923 Certificates of Occupancy within three years, with nearly 1,000 processed this year alone, adding that the completion of the state’s digital mapping project in partnership with UN-Habitat would usher in a fully digitised land administration system that would eliminate fraudulent land transactions and speed up property documentation.

On education, he said the administration’s Smart School initiative is gathering momentum with two Smart Schools already commissioned out of the planned twenty, assuring that the remaining eighteen schools would be completed soon.
“The idea is to expose our children to modern technology from an early stage,” the Governor stated.
Addressing ongoing infrastructure projects, Governor Otti acknowledged that the rainy season has slowed the pace of road construction but assured residents that work continues across major project sites. He also reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ending flooding through the construction of durable drainage infrastructure.

Responding to concerns over rising rents in Umuahia and Aba, the Governor attributed the increase to growing demand for accommodation and announced that the government would soon commence the Pocket Layout Housing Project in Umuahia to bridge the housing deficit.
Governor Otti described the recent visit of the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, as a major boost to Abia’s creative economy. He revealed that a dedicated bank account has been opened for the Akwete Cloth Production Hub, while the First Lady has authorised the release of the funds she pledged to support the Akwete women’s weaving initiative.
He urged residents to promote indigenous industries by patronising and wearing the locally woven Akwete fabric.

The Governor also commended residents for embracing environmental sanitation, urged them to sustain the culture of cleanliness, praised security agencies for maintaining peace across the state and congratulated the Commissioner of Police on his promotion to the rank of Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG).

The Abia State Government has unveiled plans to transform key markets in Umuahia, including the Ogwumabiri Market at Ossah, through comprehensive renovation and, where necessary, relocation to more suitable sites, as part of a wider urban renewal programme aimed at boosting commerce, improving infrastructure and ensuring sustainable city development.

The Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, disclosed this while briefing journalists at the Government House, Umuahia, on the outcome of this week’s State Executive Council meeting chaired by Governor Alex Otti.
Kanu explained that the government is taking a holistic approach to modernising markets within the state capital to create a more conducive environment for traders and consumers while addressing planning and environmental concerns.

He also announced that the tendering process for the construction of the Pocket Estate Layout in Umuahia has been concluded, with the list of successful contractors expected to be released during the week.

On infrastructure, the Commissioner said the Ministry of Works is currently executing direct labour road projects at 46 locations across the state. He noted that three road maintenance projects have been completed, while two additional roads have been incorporated into the ministry’s maintenance programme.

According to him, the completed projects include the failed section of the Nkwoagu Junction–Nkwo Mbala Road in Umunneochi Local Government Area, the second phase of the Akara Junction–Ovim Bridge Road in Isuikwuato LGA, and the rehabilitation of Mazi Okoro Avenue in Obinkita, Arochukwu LGA.

He added that rainy season maintenance has commenced on the Opopo Junction–Azumini–Obehe Road, a federal highway linking the Enugu–Port Harcourt Expressway, as well as the access road to Obingwa General Hospital and the Obingwa Local Government Headquarters.
As part of measures to strengthen urban planning and public safety, Kanu announced that the state government has introduced mandatory soil and geotechnical testing as a prerequisite for obtaining building permits in Umuahia.

He said the policy is designed to improve structural integrity, prevent building collapse and safeguard lives and property by ensuring that every building is designed in accordance with the soil characteristics of its location.
The Commissioner further revealed that the Umuahia Capital Development Authority (UCDA) has intensified drainage desilting operations across flood-prone areas of the capital city to mitigate flooding and improve environmental sanitation.

Areas currently benefiting from the exercise include Adelabu Street, the drainage channel from Shoprite to Uwalaka Street, Asaba Street Junction, Ndume Otuka Road, Winners Church Ndume Road, Church of Christ axis and Finbarrs Road.
The latest decisions of the State Executive Council underscore the Otti administration’s commitment to modernising markets, expanding infrastructure, strengthening urban planning, improving road connectivity and building safer, more resilient communities across Abia State.