By Sophia Afolabi
The Abia State Government has announced that the state is among six selected nationwide to benefit from the World Bank-funded Sustainable Urban, Rural and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) project.
Commissioner for Information, Okey Kanu, disclosed this while briefing journalists at the Government House in Umuahia, noting that the multimillion-dollar initiative would strengthen access to potable water and sanitation services across the state.
Kanu said Abia’s inclusion underscores increasing confidence by international development partners in the state government’s ongoing reforms and infrastructure expansion drive.
He also revealed the resumption of the USAID Small-Town WASH project, which had previously been suspended by the United States Government.
According to him, the programme has now secured fresh funding support from Mercy Corps and will prioritise the rehabilitation of water schemes in both urban and rural communities.
On the power sector, the commissioner said the Abia State Electricity Regulatory Authority had issued three interim licences to New Era, Aba Power, and Geometric Power to boost electricity supply.
He added that the Ohafia Power Restoration Project had reached 85 per cent completion and is expected to be delivered before the end of the fourth quarter of the year.
Kanu further disclosed that installation of a 1.8-megawatt micro-grid solar power system for central bus terminals in Umuahia and Aba had commenced as part of the state’s clean energy transition programme.
