The Abia State Government has been cleared by the World Bank to benefit from a $250 million grant aimed at strengthening health security in Nigeria.
The Commissioner for Information, Okey Kanu, disclosed this while briefing journalists on the outcome of the State Executive Council meeting presided over by Governor Alex Otti.
Kanu attributed the state’s inclusion in the programme to ongoing reforms in the health sector, which qualified Abia as one of the beneficiary states.
He further revealed that the Federal Government’s Rural Emergency Services and Maternal Transport Programme has been domesticated in the state to enhance access to emergency healthcare and reduce maternal, child, and neonatal mortality.
In addition, the 2026 edition of the Association of Nigerian Physicians in the Americas (ANPA) Medical Mission is set to commence in the state, with plans to conduct about 1,500 medical consultations and 100 specialised surgeries.
Kanu also noted that recent health sector reforms received a boost following a visit by a World Bank team to assess public finance systems related to healthcare delivery.
He added that no major public health concerns—such as Lassa fever, mpox, diphtheria, yellow fever, or cholera—were recorded in the state within the review period.
In the education sector, the commissioner announced the commencement of the Abia State Accelerated Basic Education Programme, designed to enable residents complete the six-year primary school curriculum within three years.
The initiative, implemented through the Agency for Mass Literacy, Adult and Non-Formal Education, targets individuals who missed out on basic education, giving them an opportunity to obtain their First School Leaving Certificate.
Residents have been encouraged to take advantage of the programme as part of efforts to improve literacy and expand access to education across the state.
