The Abia State Government has commenced payment of outstanding gratuities owed retired workers, with beneficiaries covering the period 2001 to 2010 already paid, while preparations are underway for the next batch covering 2011 to 2025, the Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, has announced.
Kanu disclosed this while briefing the public on key decisions and developments arising from the State Executive Council meeting presided over by Governor Alex C. Otti, OFR.
He said the phased payment was necessary because of the substantial financial resources required to settle the accumulated liabilities inherited from previous administrations.

According to him, the government remains committed to clearing the outstanding gratuity obligations, adding that the process could be concluded earlier than anticipated as verification and payment procedures continue.
The Commissioner also clarified that the inclusion of gratuity provisions in the State’s 2026–2031 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and subsequent annual budgets does not imply that gratuity payments will end in 2031.
Rather, he explained, the provision is intended to ensure that gratuity obligations are systematically funded going forward and prevent the accumulation of fresh arrears.
Kanu assured that as internal verification continues, eligible beneficiaries will receive their payments in batches in line with the established process.
He said the development was part of the administration’s broader commitment to workers’ welfare, accountability and sustainable management of the State’s finances.
The Commissioner further disclosed that the State Executive Council had approved several measures covering heritage preservation, tourism, taxation, infrastructure, digital transformation, international partnerships and economic development.
On heritage and tourism, Kanu said the National War Museum and Ojukwu Bunker in Umuahia, as well as Government College, Umuahia, had been designated State Monuments, while Ibom Waterfall in Arochukwu and Ulochukwu Cave in Alayi, Bende Local Government Area, were designated State Natural Monuments.
He said the designations would help preserve Abia’s historical and cultural assets, promote tourism and position the sites for wider national and international recognition, including potential UNESCO Heritage Site status.

He also announced the designation of Aba as a Creative and Innovative City, citing its longstanding commercial, industrial and creative significance.
According to him, the retrofitting of the Ojukwu Bunker and National War Museum is about 80 per cent complete and is expected to be concluded before the end of 2026.
The State Government has equally commenced work on the Ibom Waterfall Tourism Corridor, including the grading of access roads, while monuments are being erected at strategic locations across the State, including one honouring the heroines of the 1929 Aba Women’s Riot.
On taxation, Kanu dismissed reports of new excessive tax rates introduced by the present administration, explaining that most of the rates being referenced date back to 2020 and were established under the previous administration.
He specifically described as false reports that akara sellers are required to pay ₦50,000 in taxes, stating that they instead pay applicable daily tolls of between ₦300 and ₦350.
The Commissioner also announced that Abia would host the British Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. Johnny Baxter, on September 16 and 17, 2026, for engagements on power, trade, transportation, education, digital transformation and governance.
He said the visit would feature the flag-off of the SPRIRET Initiative, a UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office-funded programme aimed at promoting digital inclusion at no cost to the State.
On infrastructure, Kanu disclosed that the Ministry of Works currently has 44 direct-labour road projects across the State, while the 1.5-kilometre Jaja Wachuku Road in Isiala Ngwa North LGA has been completed, becoming the latest completed project among the 26 ongoing contract road projects.

He said the administration remained focused on building a more prosperous, organised and investment-friendly Abia through sustained infrastructure delivery, improved citizens’ welfare, heritage preservation, economic expansion and stronger international partnerships.

The Abia State Government will host the British Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. Johnny Baxter, in a visit expected to strengthen cooperation between the State and the United Kingdom in key areas of development.
The Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, disclosed this while briefing the public on major decisions and developments arising from the State Executive Council meeting presided over by Governor Alex C. Otti, OFR.

According to Kanu, the Deputy High Commissioner’s engagements will focus on power, trade and commerce, transportation, education, digital transformation and governance, with the visit providing an opportunity to showcase the transformation taking place across Abia.
A major highlight of the visit will be the flag-off of the SPRIRET Initiative, a UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office-funded programme designed to promote digital inclusion in the State at no cost to the Abia State Government.

The Commissioner said the initiative builds on the Digital Access Programme, through which more than 1,500 Abia civil servants were trained in 2024.
During the visit, Baxter is expected to pay a courtesy call on Governor Otti and tour strategic projects and institutions, including the Geometric Power Plant, Ariaria International Market in Aba, Nnenna Oti Bus Terminal in Umuahia, the Solar Project and the Ubakala Smart School Project.

He will also engage stakeholders in security, politics, civil society and the media.
Kanu said the visit further strengthens the growing relationship between Abia State and the United Kingdom, while providing another platform to attract partnerships and investment opportunities to the State.
He added that the development formed part of the administration’s broader efforts to position Abia as a more digitally connected, investment-friendly and economically competitive State.

Meanwhile, on workers’ welfare, the Commissioner announced that the State Government has commenced payment of outstanding gratuities owed retired workers, with payments covering 2001–2010 already made and preparations underway for the next batch covering 2011–2025.
He explained that the payments were being made in batches because of the substantial financial resources required to settle the accumulated liabilities, assuring that the government remained committed to clearing the outstanding obligations.

The Abia State Government has intensified its fight against malaria, announcing plans to distribute 3,030,000 insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) across the 17 Local Government Areas of the state this September, as part of a renewed strategy to reduce malaria infections and prevent malaria-related deaths.

This was announced by the Commissioner for Information ,Prince Okey Kanu during a press briefing after EXCO chaired by the Governor at the Government House, Umuahia, Abia State.

The intervention, being implemented in collaboration with the National Malaria Elimination Programme, comes against the backdrop of encouraging progress in malaria control in the state. Malaria prevalence in Abia declined from 16 per cent in 2024 to 11 per cent in 2025, below the national average of about 15.2 per cent.

The state government, however, said it would not rest on the progress recorded, setting a target of reducing malaria prevalence by another five percentage points and bringing it into single digits.
The government disclosed this as part of its latest update on developments across the state, stressing that the malaria intervention would be complemented by larval source management, identification of malaria hotspots and sustained public awareness campaigns.

It noted that the mass ITN distribution was particularly significant because Abia had not conducted a mass distribution exercise since 2010.
Residents were also urged to support the campaign by maintaining clean surroundings, eliminating stagnant water and removing potential mosquito breeding sites.

In another major healthcare intervention, the state government said its Community Supported Health Insurance Programme was gaining momentum, with the formal launch of the scheme for Abiriba Community scheduled for September 16, 2026.
Through the support of the Abiriba Improvement Union, 1,000 members of the community will be enrolled in the health insurance programme at ₦18,000 per person, representing an initial investment of ₦18 million.

The government encouraged other community development unions across the state to emulate the initiative by supporting the enrolment of their members in the health insurance programme.
It further disclosed that the recruitment portal for additional medical personnel remains open for medical consultants, medical officers and dental officers, as part of efforts to strengthen manpower in healthcare facilities across the state.

The government also reported that no cases of diseases of public health importance were recorded in the state within the period under review.

Beyond healthcare, the government announced plans to commence construction of a 200-metre road extension from Bende Road Junction by Umuwaya and the Post Office Tower, through the railway crossing to First Bank and the Akanu Ibiam Road axis.

The project follows a recently signed Memorandum of Understanding between the Abia State Government and the Nigerian Railway Corporation, with design and scoping activities already underway.
Renovation and retrofitting works have also commenced on an existing structure within the railway station to facilitate the relocation of the police post, while the abandoned road linking First Bank to Keystone, FCMB and other banks in the area will be reconstructed.

On flood control, the Emede-Ibeku Flood Control Programme has recorded substantial progress, with site clearing completed, piling about 90 per cent completed, and drainage excavation and construction approximately 80 per cent completed.
The Umuahia Capital Development Authority has also identified structurally defective buildings within Umuahia, with affected structures sealed as a precautionary measure to avert possible loss of lives.

The Abia Green Shuttle Bus Service has continued to attract strong patronage. During the free-ridership period from December 2025 to February 2026, the service conveyed 196,950 passengers.
Since the commencement of commercial operations in March, an additional 303,834 passengers used the service through August 2026, bringing total patronage since the launch of the scheme to 560,784 passengers.
The government said the figures reflected growing public confidence in the state’s transport services.

The state also highlighted its performance in the 2026 BudgIT State of States Report, covering 2017–2025.
According to the report, Abia ranked second in aggregate revenue growth, third in Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) growth, first in total expenditure growth, first in capital expenditure growth and first in personnel expenditure growth, while maintaining comparatively contained overhead expenditure.
The government said the assessment demonstrated its commitment to prudent and strategic management of public resources while expanding investments in infrastructure and human development.
It added that the assessment was consistent with the findings of the Phillips Consulting State Performance Index, which identified Abia as one of Nigeria’s fastest-improving states.

The administration said its priority remained the delivery of tangible improvements in the lives of Abia residents rather than competition with other states, adding that it would continue to implement reforms and investments across healthcare, transportation, flood control, infrastructure, education, governance and fiscal management.