Abia Government Treats 2,500 Patients in Free Medical Outreach, Strengthens Project Monitoring Unit

The Abia State Government has declared that it has strengthened its monitoring and evaluation unit in order to effectively monitor all projects carried out by the Alex Otti administration.

Prince Okey Kanu, the State Commissioner for Information and Culture, hinted at this while briefing journalists on the outcome of this week’s Executive Council meeting. He explained that strengthening the unit would lead to seamless project execution and ensure that the government gets value for every dollar spent in accordance with specifications.

According to the Information Commissioner, as a responsible and responsive government, Governor Alex Otti’s administration will continue to put in place measures to ensure that all funds at its disposal are used wisely for the benefit of state citizens and residents.

His words, “As a responsible and responsive government, that is the way to go to ensure that all government initiatives and projects are executed in a manner that would ensure that state resources are optimally deployed to achieve the best outcomes that would ensure dividends of democracy for all Abians and residents in accordance with all government programmes and policies.”

Kanu noted that the Otti government is currently working to rehabilitate 27 road projects across the state and assured Abians that massive road infrastructure development would continue as one of the state’s key economic drivers.

On the upcoming free medical mission to be conducted by the Association of Nigerian Physicians in America (ANPA) in April 2024, Prince Kanu revealed that over 2,500 patients have already registered, with over 5000 expected to benefit from the mission.

“Patient registration for the ANPA medical mission is currently ongoing. It will take place in April, but more than half of the patients who are expected to benefit from the medical mission have already registered. So, by the time the medical mission takes off, we will have reached the 5,000 mark.”

He expressed regret over the emergence of two rival cult groups at Abia State University, Uturu (ABSU), and advised students to avoid joining any cult group.

According to him, the state government has been informed that there were skirmishes at Abia State University Uturu (ABSU) between two rival student groups, during which one student died.

He did, however, reveal that some corrective actions had been taken to restore normalcy in the institution, and that investigations had also been initiated.

“As a responsible government, some corrective measures have been implemented to restore peace and order on campus. The government has dispatched security agencies to take control of the situation at ABSU, and ABSU students, as well as students from all tertiary institutions in the state, have been advised to refrain from violence and other actions that could jeopardise their lives and studies. Investigations in that regard have been launched.”

Mr. Ferdinand Ekeoma, Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, stated that the government has yet to establish the details of what occurred at the school, but that once investigations are completed, the public will be kept informed.

“A few hours ago, word spread that there was a cult clash on campus. Of course, at this point, we would expect to receive briefings from security agencies. At the moment, we know it was a cult clash, but we do not know exactly what happened. “Once that is completed, we will notify the media,” he stated.

Mr. Chinedu Ekeke, the Governor’s Deputy Chief of Staff, and Mr. Ugochukwu Okoroafor, the Governor’s Special Adviser on Monitoring and Evaluation, were among those present.