Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, during the briefing on Monday
Construction of Abia Airport begins, as govt. plans 20 smart schools
From Boniface Okoro, Umuahia
Construction of the first airport to be built in Abia State would be flagged off on December 17, 2024. This coming as the government has announced plans to establish 20 smart schools across the 17 local government areas of the state.
Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, made these known at Government House, Umuahia, while briefing newsmen on the outcome of the weekly State Executive Council meeting on Monday, December 9, 2024.
The flag-off of the construction of the airport project to be sited at Nsulu in Isiala Ngwa North Local Government Area, Prince Kanu said, would be jointly performed by the State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, and the Minister of Aviation, Barr Festus Keyamo, next week Tuesday.
The Commissioner said the project, previously an airstrip which the federal government had planned to build in Abia, was upgraded when Abia decided to build a bigger runway.
According to the Commissioner, at the outset, airport was not a priority project of the state government but when the federal government decided to build an airstrip in Abia State, the Governor decided to partner the Federal government to convert the airstrip to a full airport project.
“This unique partnership will lead to the construction of the requisite runways that would land bigger aircrafts when finished.” Prince Kanu said.
He disclosed that major stakeholders were on board to ensure the success of the project.
Prince Kanu also disclosed that the Governor has approved the establishment of 20 smart schools across the 17 local government areas of the state as a further step towards the revamping of the education system in the state, alongside that the ongoing retrofitting of 251 schools in the state.
Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Elder Goodluck Ubochi, who was present during the briefing, explained that the smart schools would begin with secondary schools, saying that existing schools would be retrofitted for the purpose and teachers’ skills upgraded.
“Building of the Smart Schools will begin with secondary schools. Interactive Boards, every component needed has been acquired. We are going t se existing secondart schools and we will make them suitable and we will upgrade the skills of the teachers to make digitally complaint, Commissioner Ubochi said.
Special Adviser (Media and Publicty) to the Governor, Mr. Ferdinand Ekeoma, said, in his contribution, that transformation of schools in Abia was a measure to ensure that public schools regained their lost glory in the state and even the schools of choice as against the present situation when parents and guardians prefer private schools.
Still on Eductaion, Prince Kanu maintained that the new law that makes Basic Education up to Junior Secondary level compulsory in the state would take effect from January 1, 2025.
“Under this law, it will be an offence for any parent or guardian in the state to fail to send their children or wards to school,” he said, adding that “the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Elder Goodluck Ubochi, has been directed to activate necessary measures to enforce compliance.”
On road Infrastructure, the Commissioner for Information disclosed that the Ministry of Works has completed three new road projects in Aba, including Cemetery Road (Phase 2), Umule Road and Umuocham Road, which would be commissioned soon.
He said that the projects would bring the total number of commissioned roads under Governor Otti’s administration to 20, in addition to the 147 rehabilitated internal roads in Aba and Umuahia, completed through direct labour.
Price Kanu disclosed that the recently renovated Emergency Operation Center, funded by CARITAS and located at the Abia State Health Insurance building, has been handed over to the Ministry of Health, noting that the facility would serve as a central hub for coordinating responses to public health emergencies.
He added that the new COVID 19 variant, XEC, was not in the state while Abia has been declared free from diphtheria, Mpox and Cholera by the Centre for Disease Control.
The Commissioner assured residents and visitors of adequate security during this yuletide, adding that preparations were underway to provide a safe and joyous yuletide for all.
