Abia Doles Out N1.2Billion To Disabled, Other Vulnerable Persons, As Nsulu Stakeholders Adopt Otti

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Abia State government has so far given over N1.2 billion to people living with disabilities and other vulnerable persons in the state.

Disclosing this to journalists in Umuahia, the Abia State Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, said the assistance, which began in January 2026, was in the areas of medicare, especially life-saving ones, housing support for persons living with disabilities, emergency accommodation for disaster victims, and educational assistance for indigent students.

The Commissioner for Information, who spoke after this week’s State Executive Council meeting presided over by Governor Alex Otti, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to compassionate governance and social protection.

According to him, Abia under Dr Alex Otti has continued to implement the state’s social protection framework by identifying, assessing and coordinating urgent medical and humanitarian assistance for vulnerable residents.

He revealed that Otti recently approved N384.7 million for 19 vulnerable beneficiaries to cater for life-saving medical interventions, emergency housing assistance, rehabilitation and educational support.

He declared, “His Excellency has continued to demonstrate the compassionate disposition of his administration by approving support for vulnerable citizens requiring urgent medical, humanitarian and housing interventions”.

He opined that routine monitoring and follow-up visits carried out by the government ensured accountability in the utilisation of government assistance, leading to the recovery and repatriation of N20.9 million in unused funds from two beneficiaries, one of whom sadly died before utilising the funds, as well as the other whose medical bills had already been settled before help was received.

Prince Kanu used the forum to inform that the state government, through the Ministry of Poverty Alleviation and Social Protection, will commemorate the 2026 Widows’ Day on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, at the JAAC Secretariat in Umuahia.

The theme of this year’s event is “Justice, Dignity and Economic Power for Widows”.

The programme, he further explained, is designed to provide direct economic support to vulnerable widows, strengthen household resilience, promote dignity, inclusion and economic participation while advancing the state’s social protection objectives.

“Over 600 indigent widows will receive special business support grants from the wife of the governor as part of activities marking this year’s celebration,” he asserted.

On World Elders’ Abuse Awareness Day, the commissioner announced that the Day will be commemorated at the JAAC Building, Umuahia, even as he disclosed that its theme is: “Beyond Awareness: Making Elder Abuse Prevention Work”, adding that it is scheduled for 9: 00 am.

On efforts to combat gender-based violence, the Commissioner disclosed that the Nchedo Sexual Assault Referral Centre recorded 11 cases of sexual and gender-based violence between July and August 2026.

The survivors, he said, received comprehensive medical, psychosocial, legal and referral services, while six suspects were arrested and four prosecuted.

He stated that the state government would not relent in ensuring that perpetrators of sexual and gender-based violence are brought to justice.

The Commissioner announced that the Ministry of Women Affairs has released the Project Implementation Report on the Nigeria for Women Programme (NFWP), a World Bank-assisted initiative aimed at improving women’s livelihoods.

Kanu maintained that following the successful pilot phase, Abia joined the programme’s scale-up phase in November 2025, with Governor Alex Otti approving and paying the state’s N450 million counterpart fund, pointing out that in addition to the pilot LGAs of Ohafia, Isiala Ngwa North and Obingwa,” the programme has now expanded to six participating local government areas.

Other areas include: Isiala Ngwa South, Ugwunagbo, Arochukwu, Bende, Ikwuano and Ukwa West. He stated that the number of women’s affinity groups in the state has increased from 3,000 to 6,000.

The commissioner therefore encouraged women in the benefiting local government areas to participate actively in the programme’s implementation unit to maximise its opportunities.

On infrastructure, Kanu disclosed that the Ministry of Works carried out direct labour interventions in 46 locations across the state, out of which one project was completed.

He disclosed that the de-silting of major roads and drainage channels across Umuahia, including IBB Road, Ahiaeke Road, Finbarrs Road, Road 8, and Obowo Street by Ibeku Road, has been completed to facilitate free flow of floodwater during the rainy season.

According to him, three additional projects have been added to the ministry’s maintenance programme, including:
rainy season maintenance of the 7-kilometre Akpa-Mbato Road in Obingwa LGA.

He also announced that the state will actively participate in the burial of late Dr. Mrs Uzomaka Kelechi Nwaubani, the medical doctor who died during the ANPA medical outreach in April this year.

While describing her as a patriotic daughter of Abia State whose death amounts to a great loss to the state, Kanu disclosed that the government has constituted a burial committee to collaborate with the family to ensure she is accorded a befitting burial.

The Service of Songs, he declared, will be held in honour of late Dr Uzoma Nwaubani on Wednesday, August 5, 2026 at Nkata Primary School, Umumukwu Nkata Ibeku, while the Funeral Service will be held on Friday, August 7, 2026 at the International Conference Center Umuahia, adding that a detailed burial programme will be released subsequently.

At the briefing were the Commissioners of Women Affairs, Dr. Maureen Aghukwa, and her Poverty Alleviation and Social Protection Counterparts, Mrs. Ngozi Blessing Felix, as well as the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity. Mr. Ferdinand Ekeoma.

Meanwhile, the Labour Party Stakeholders in Nsulu, Isiala Ngwa North LGA have reaffirmed their unwavering support for Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti.

The stand of the stakeholders is contained in a communique they released after extensive deliberations they held in a strategic meeting convened recently by the stakeholders’ Chairman and Chief of Staff to the Governor, Pastor Caleb Ajagba.

The stakeholders in the communique commended the governor for the remarkable transformation taking place across Abia State, particularly the execution of strategic projects within Nsulu.

They named the Abia International Airport, the Umuomaiukwu Smart School, and several road infrastructure projects as among them and therefore resolved to strengthen their unity within the Labour Party in Nsulu.

The people emphasised that every member, irrespective of when he/she joined the party, should enjoy equal status and should be accorded mutual respect, inclusiveness, and equal opportunity to contribute to the growth of the party.

The communique jointly asked the Chairman of the stakeholders, Pastor Caleb Ajagba, and Joint acting Secretaries, Dr. Chibuzo Emeruwa and Dr. Enyichukwu Olumba, to intensify grassroots sensitisation and mobilisation across all communities in Nsulu, “with a view to effectively communicating the achievements of the present administration and consolidating support for the Labour Party ahead of the 2027 General Elections”.

The communique declared, “Stakeholders reaffirmed their commitment to supporting all candidates of the Labour Party at every level of the forthcoming elections, recognising that the success of the party depends on collective responsibility, unity of purpose, and coordinated action”.

Also, the forum welcomed the assurances by the Chief of Staff that compensation for persons affected by the Abia Airport land acquisition has been approved by the State Government, expressing confidence that all eligible beneficiaries will receive their entitlements accordingly.