The Abia State Government has announced plans to revitalise four moribund companies in Aba, including the Aba Textile Mills, International Equitable Industries, Afro Beverages, and Star Paper Mills.
The Commissioner for Information, Okey Kanu, disclosed this while briefing newsmen at the Government House in Umuahia on the outcome of Monday’s Executive Council meeting.
Kanu explained 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.
According to him, “The revitalisation efforts will focus on providing jobs for Abia people and generating revenue for the state. The government will also retain enough shares in the companies when sold to private investors to ensure Abia people are not shortchanged by the managers.”
The commissioner also reported that the Abia Health Insurance Scheme had exceeded its target for 2025, with 103,076 enrollees already registered. He said the achievement showed the people’s trust in the scheme’s ability to meet their healthcare needs.
Kanu added that the commencement of registration for residents in the informal sector would be announced later. He said two new departments had also been created within the Ministry of Health, namely the Abia Drug and Medical Commodities Management Agency and the Department of Nutrition, to address health demands in the state.
On primary healthcare, he noted that 121 Primary Healthcare Centres had been completed under Project Ekwueme. Out of these, 17 PHCs were already functional and providing services, while 33 more were being equipped to commence operations.
He further disclosed that in the third phase of the programme, another 50 PHCs would be brought into operation.
“Abia has about 948 Primary Healthcare Centres, so rehabilitation is being done in batches. Another phase will begin in October,” he said. The commissioner explained that the increase in residents using government health facilities was a sign of growing confidence in the state’s health system. He attributed this to improvements in equipment and personnel across healthcare centres.
Kanu also informed reporters that the Ministry of Environment had commenced house-to-house sanitary inspection services across the 17 local government areas on August 1. The aim, he said, was to encourage good hygiene practices among residents.
“Defaulters will be prosecuted in line with the Abia State Environmental Laws,” he warned.
He further announced that the Executive Council had approved the Abia Health, Safety, and Environment Policy designed to cater to the welfare of civil servants. Kanu stated that the policy would be implemented following Governor Alex Otti’s approval of the proposal.