The Abia government says it is poised to revitalise four moribund companies in Aba, including the Aba Textile Mills, International Equitable Industries, Afro Beverages, and Star Paper Mills.
Information commissioner Okey Kanu disclosed this at the Government House in Umuahia, while briefing newsmen on the outcome of Monday’s Executive Council meeting.
Mr Kanu said that the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria had approved Abia’s plan to take over Star Paper Mills in Aba. He said the recovery of the company would be followed by its revitalisation, alongside others, before selling them to private sector investors.
Mr Kanu said the revitalisation efforts would focus on providing jobs for Abia people and generating revenue for Abia. According to him, the state will retain enough shares in the companies when sold to private investors to ensure Abia people are not shortchanged by the managers.
The commissioner said that the Abia Health Insurance Scheme had exceeded its target in 2025, having registered 103,076 enrollees. He argued that the record showed the people’s faith in the scheme as capable of tackling their healthcare needs.
Mr Kanu stated that the commencement of registering residents in the informal sector for the scheme would be announced at a later date.
He stated that the government had established two new departments, the Abia Drug and Medical Commodities Management Agency and the Department of Nutrition within the Ministry of Health, to meet the needs of the people.
He also said that 121 Primary Healthcare Centres had been completed under Project Ekwueme, with 17 PHCs made functional and providing services. The commissioner stated that 33 were being equipped to make them functional, adding that during the programme’s third phase, another 50 PHCs would be brought into operation.
He stated that Abia had approximately 948 PHCs, hence their rehabilitation was being done in batches, with another phase scheduled to commence in October. He said that the state had recorded a higher number of residents using its health facilities, which was a sign of the people’s faith in the health system.
He stated that the improvement in equipment and personnel was key to inspiring the increase in the use of state health facilities. He said the state Ministry of Environment began house-to-house sanitary inspection services in the 17 LGAs on August 1 to encourage best hygiene practices.
“Defaulters will be prosecuted in line with the Abia State Environmental Laws,” he said.
Mr Kanu announced the approval of the Abia Health, Safety, and Environment Policy by the EXCO, designed to cater to the well-being of the state’s civil servants. He stated that the policy will be implemented with the approval of the proposal by Governor Alex Otti.
(NAN)