The Abia State Government has approved the disbursement of more than N1.2 billion to vulnerable residents across the state between January and August 2026, to support life-saving medical treatment, housing assistance for persons living with disabilities, emergency accommodation for disaster victims, and educational assistance for indigent students.
Within the period, the government also approved N384.7 million for 19 vulnerable beneficiaries to fund life-saving medical interventions, emergency housing assistance, rehabilitation, and educational support.
Routine monitoring and follow-up visits by the Ministry of Poverty Alleviation and Social Protection on the utilisation of government assistance also led to the recovery and repatriation of N20.9 million in unutilised funds from two beneficiaries. One of the beneficiaries died before the funds could be utilised, while the other had already settled his medical bills before the government’s intervention was released.
The Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, made the disclosure while briefing journalists at the Government House, Umuahia, on the outcome of this week’s State Executive Council meeting presided over by Governor Alex Otti, on Monday.
Reaffirming the administration’s commitment to compassionate governance and social protection, Kanu said the Ministry of Poverty Alleviation and Social Protection has continued to implement the state’s social protection framework by identifying, assessing, and coordinating urgent medical and humanitarian assistance for vulnerable residents.
“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,” Kanu said.
He also announced that activities marking this year’s Widows Day would focus on providing direct economic support to vulnerable widows, strengthening household resilience, promoting dignity, inclusion, and economic participation, while advancing the state’s social protection objectives.
The commissioner further disclosed that the state would commemorate this year’s World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, today, with the theme: “Beyond Awareness: Making Elder Abuse Prevention Work.”
On efforts to combat gender-based violence, Kanu revealed that the Nchedo Sexual Assault Referral Centre recorded 11 cases of sexual and gender-based violence between July and August 2026. He said all survivors received comprehensive medical, psychosocial, legal, and referral services, while six suspects were arrested and four prosecuted. He reaffirmed the government’s resolve to ensure that perpetrators of sexual and gender-based violence are brought to justice.
Kanu also announced that the Ministry of Women Affairs had released the Project Implementation Report on the Nigeria for Women Programme (NFWP), a World Bank-supported initiative aimed at improving women’s livelihoods. He explained that after the successful pilot phase, Abia joined the programme’s scale-up phase in November 2025, with Governor Otti approving and paying the state’s N450 million counterpart fund.
He said the programme has expanded beyond the pilot local government areas of Ohafia, Isiala Ngwa North, and Obingwa to include Isiala Ngwa South, Ugwunagbo, Arochukwu, Bende, Ikwuano, and Ukwa West. He added that the number of women’s affinity groups in the state has increased from 3,000 to 6,000.
On infrastructure, the commissioner said the Ministry of Works carried out direct labour interventions at 46 locations across the state, with one project already completed. He disclosed that the desilting of major roads and drainage channels in Umuahia, including IBB Road–Ahiaeke Road, Finbarrs Road, Road 8 and Obowo Street, off Ibeku Road, had been completed to facilitate the free flow of floodwater during the rainy season.
Kanu added that three additional projects had been incorporated into the ministry’s maintenance programme, including the rainy season maintenance of the seven-kilometre Akpa-Mbato Road in Obingwa Local Government Area.
Also present at the briefing were the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Dr Maureen Aghukwa; the Commissioner for Poverty Alleviation and Social Protection, Mrs Ngozi Blessing Felix; and the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Mr Ferdinand Ekeoma.
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<small>Source: The Sun Nigeria — read the original story there.</small>