The Abia State Government says it has strengthened preventive measures against Ebola virus disease (EVD), including public health awareness and hygiene guidelines, following reports of a confirmed case in Nigeria.
The Commissioner for Information, Okey Kanu, disclosed this on Tuesday while briefing journalists on the outcome of the State Executive Council meeting in Umuahia.
Kanu said the state Ministry of Health had established preventive protocols and issued a health advisory outlining measures residents should observe to reduce the risk of infection.
According to him, officials from the state ministries of Health and Information also participated in a meeting convened by the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Ali Pate, to discuss the Federal Government’s response and efforts to contain the disease.
He added that the Ministry of Health had issued additional preventive guidelines in its Week 43 health advisory.
The commissioner urged residents to remain calm, maintain good personal hygiene and follow official public health guidance. He also said the Ministry of Health, working with the Abia State Orientation Agency, would launch a public enlightenment campaign to educate residents about Ebola prevention.
In a separate announcement, Kanu said Governor Alex Otti had approved funding for the evacuation and reintegration of Abia indigenes affected by xenophobic attacks in South Africa.
He explained that the approval covered the screening and airlifting of 100 stranded returnees, as well as transportation to their respective destinations after arriving in Nigeria. The returnees were expected to arrive in November, although a specific date had yet to be announced.
The commissioner further disclosed that the state government would provide ₦1 million each to 130 eligible returnees, including those who had independently financed their journeys home.
He said the proposed assistance would complement an earlier payment of ₦1 million each to 31 returnees, bringing the number of beneficiaries to more than 160.
According to Kanu, the government also approved ₦2 million for each family of Abia indigenes who died during the attacks.
He added that the Ministry of Poverty Alleviation and Social Protection had coordinated the reception of 12 returnees in three batches and facilitated their reunification with family members in different locations.
The state government, he said, was also developing a long term reintegration programme to address the returnees’ livelihood needs, economic empowerment and other social welfare concerns.
On access to justice and the protection of vulnerable persons, Kanu disclosed that 17 cases were before the courts at the Nchedo Sexual Assault and Referral Centre, while two convictions were secured in July.
He said the development reflected the state government’s efforts to strengthen protection for vulnerable people and improve access to justice.
The commissioner also provided an update on road infrastructure, stating that Abia had 51 direct labour road project locations, with three completed. He added that two new projects had been included in the Ministry of Works’ maintenance programme.
The completed projects included the rehabilitation of internal roads at the Nigerian Navy College of Accounts and Finance in Owerrinta, the construction of Green Avenue Spot in Aba, and the construction of Road 4 in Area 5 of Agbama Housing Estate, Umuahia.
The two newly approved projects were the construction of St. Vincent de Paul, Umuafai, in Umuahia North Local Government Area, and maintenance work on the 31.4 kilometre Isieketa-Ntigha Road, which traverses Obingwa, Isiala Ngwa North and Isiala Ngwa South local government areas.
Kanu said 24 road projects were currently under contract, with work gradually resuming at several sites following improved weather conditions.
He also announced the completion of the 12.6 kilometre Ohanze-Ntighauzo-Obete-Umuoha-Obereta-Akirika Obu Road, which links Obingwa and Ukwa East local government areas.
Written by Enitan Mudashiru
