Abia Assembly Rejects Bill To Create Development Areas

The Abia State House of Assembly has rejected a legislative proposal aimed at creating new development areas across the state, citing the existence of functional regional development authorities as a more effective vehicle for grassroots transformation.

During its plenary session on Tuesday, the House debated a motion brought forward by Hon. Mandela Obasi, who represents the Ohafia North State Constituency. The motion sought to establish new development areas in Abia State to address infrastructural gaps and promote even development across communities.

However, the lawmakers turned down the motion, arguing that the state already has effective regional development frameworks in place, including the Greater Aba Development Authority (GADA), Umuahia Capital Development Authority (UCDA), and the Greater Ohafia Development Authority (GODA).

These authorities, the House maintained, are better positioned to drive sustainable development across Abia’s three senatorial zones.

While rejecting the motion, the House advised Hon. Obasi to present his proposal as a formal bill to allow for broader legislative scrutiny and consideration.

Government College Umuahia

In another significant deliberation, the House received and considered the report of its Joint Committee on Education, Public Petitions, and Judiciary concerning a petition on the alleged takeover of Government College Umuahia by private interests.

The petition, which was raised by concerned stakeholders, including alumni of the institution, alleged that the school, a historically significant public secondary institution, had effectively been taken over by Fisher Educational Development Trust, thereby limiting public access and altering the original intent of its establishment.

After reviewing the findings of the committee, the House resolved to revoke the Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) granted to Fisher Educational Development Trust in 2014. It further resolved to review and renegotiate the existing Deed of Trust executed with the Trust to restore the school to the full control of the Abia State Government.

The House also mandated the Government College Umuahia Old Boys’ Association to constitute a new Educational Development Trust, with a clear directive that the institution must continue to operate as a public school accessible to all, rather than a privately run facility.

Legislative Progress on Land Registration Bill

In legislative business, the Abia State Land Instrument Registration (Amendment No. 1) Bill, 2025, sponsored by Hon. Anthony Chinasa Abiola, representing Umuahia Central, passed its second reading on the floor of the House.

The bill, which seeks to amend existing provisions in the state’s land registration framework, was committed to the Committee of the Whole for further deliberation and possible passage into law.

Abia Assembly Rejects Bill To Create Development Areas is first published on The Whistler Newspaper