By Abbas Nazil
The Abia State government has commenced a new sanitary policy that will see inspectors move from house to house across all 17 local government areas to check the environmental conditions of residents’ surroundings.
The announcement was made by the Commissioner for Information, Okey Kanu, on Monday during a press briefing after the weekly state executive council meeting chaired by Governor Alex Otti.
According to Kanu, residents whose homes are discovered to be in filthy conditions will face prosecution under Abia’s existing environmental laws.
The commissioner explained that the renewed house-to-house sanitary inspection is part of the government’s determination to improve the health and hygiene of the people of the state.
He said the policy will not only encourage residents to keep their environment clean but also prevent the spread of diseases linked to poor sanitation.
The Information Commissioner further disclosed that government-owned hospitals and primary health centres in Abia State are now witnessing increased patronage from citizens.
He attributed the improvement to the consistent equipping and upgrading of health facilities across the state by the Otti administration.
In addition, Kanu revealed that about 103,000 residents have already enrolled in the Abia State formal sector health insurance scheme.
This figure, he noted, surpasses the government’s initial target of 100,000 enrollees.
The commissioner also assured that residents in the informal sector, who are not yet part of the scheme, would be captured in the second phase of enrollment.
He emphasized that the extension of the insurance program is aimed at ensuring broader access to quality and affordable healthcare services across the state.
In a related development, the Abia State government disclosed that it had secured a letter of approval from the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria, AMCON, to take over the moribund Star Paper Mill.
The state explained that the paper mill, which has been dormant for years, will be handed over to private investors for revival under strict government supervision.
The aim is to prevent mismanagement and ensure that the facility contributes meaningfully to economic activities.
Government officials further noted that other abandoned or non-functional companies within the state would also be revived through similar arrangements to create job opportunities for residents.
The move, according to the state government, is in line with its broader economic agenda to stimulate growth, reduce unemployment, and enhance the welfare of the people of Abia.
With the house-to-house sanitary inspection, the government is also signaling a strict stance on environmental compliance, as it insists that public health and sustainable development cannot be compromised.
The state government called on all residents to cooperate with sanitary inspectors and adhere to environmental regulations in order to build a cleaner and healthier Abia.
