Otti To Flag Off Aba Water Scheme, Other Projects Wednesday

The Abia State government says the state Governor Dr Alex Otti will on Wednesday, 16th of July, 2025, flag off the rehabilitation of the Aba Regional Water Scheme at CKC Aba, in fulfillment of one of his campaign promises of returning potable water to the homes of Abians in the cities and communities in the state.

It also announced that the Governor will launch the Integrated Wash Accelerator Programme (IWAP), a project located at the newly constructed Wash Facility at Okigwe Park, in Umuahia and designed to bring water sanitation and hygiene back on track in the state.

Addressing newsmen at the Government House Umuahia after this week Executive Council meeting presided by the Governor Monday night, the Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, who had earlier announced that the events take place on Tuesday the 15th confirmed the postponement of the triple events to Wednesday, the 16th, said the postponement was as a result of the public holidays declared by the federal government in honour of the dead immediate past President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Bihari.

He said, “on the 16th of July, 2025, three major events will occur between Aba and Umuahia. There in Aba, His Excellency will flag off the rehabilitation of the Aba Regional Water Scheme.

“As a result of the failed infrastructure, poor operations and maintenance, the scheme requires rehabilitation to restore its performance and sustainability.

“In line with the Governor’s mandate to provide potable water supply to Aba, the state government awarded the contract to Vena Cava Limited to revamp the water scheme under the first phase of the project.

“Earlier on the same Wednesday, the 16th of July 2025, His Excellency Dr. Alex Otti will also launch the Integrated Wash Accelerator Programme (IWAP) which is designed to bring water sanitation and hygiene back on track in the state.

“The facility is aimed at providing safe, readily available and sustainable water sanitation services in the state that supports both current and future development needs.

“The project is in line with the mandate of His Excellency Dr. Alex Otti towards the realization of United Nations Sustainable Development Goal No.6 as Zero Defecation in Abia State through the Abia Integrated Wash Accelerator Programme.

“The programme will involve the construction, operation and maintenance of modern water facilities powered by solar energy, Prince Kanu stated.

Kanu further revealed that the Governor would commission the 150 kVs solar power, 430 kW battery storage, a project that is designed to power health facilities in the state with solar energy, while reducing reliance on grid electricity, thereby decreasing diesel consumption and promoting sustainability.

The Commissioner disclosed that the state government has paid for the procurement of electric vehicles for the Abia State Mass Transit transport scheme. He said that the buses which are being fabricated in China would be delivered around November 2025.

He further informed that the routes for the buses have been marked out and all necessary logistic support put in place in readiness for the successful take-off of the scheme.

Prince Kanu further explained that in line with the cultural revolution being promoted by the Governor, the state government through the Ministry of Arts, Culture and Creative Economy would launch a creative talent programme across 17 LGAs of the state on 25 July 2025.

The initiative according to the Commissioner is meant to scout for artistic and other creative talents across 17 LGAs of the state. He noted that the programme would foster youth inclusion and grassroots empowerment of the youth population in the state.

“This programme further underscores the state government’s commitment to cultural innovation with the engagement and global visibility of Abia’s creative potential in line with the vision of His Excellency, Dr. Alex Otti OFR,” Prince Kanu stated.

He said that Abia State has begun formal proceedings to position Aba as a UNESCO Creative City, noting that a delegation is set to visit Aba this week for early-stage assessments of Aba. He added that the strategic move aims to elevate Aba’s creative profile globally while aligning with global standards.

The Information boss, who revealed that about 4.1 billion Naira has been raised from the launch of the Abia State Security Trust Fund held last week, said that in line with the beautification and urban renewal programme of the state government, involving designated public spaces and routes, rural artworks are currently being designed as FMC Umuahia, Osisioma interchange (Flyover) at Aba, and Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu Polytechnic, among others while, direct level work is currently ongoing at 53 locations across the state.

On his part, the Commissioner for Power and Public Utilities, Engr. Ikechukwu Monday reiterates the Governor’s commitment to returning pipe-borne water to homes in Abia state. He added that the 3 key water schemes in Aba including Ogbor Hill, CKC and Ariaria water schemes would be revamped.

“We’ve started awarding contracts. So the first focus is the Aba Regional Water Scheme, which is made up of three water schemes that make and fuel the whole network within Aba.

“In the first phase, we estimate that it will take six months to be completed, which is revamping the water scheme to be able to produce well-treated water that meets World Health Organization standards.

“And the second phase, which we have already prepared the request for quotations, is to go into the reticulation. And that will involve both the distribution and the testing of rehabilitating the transmission, water transmission lines within Aba. So we’ll take them in phases,” Monday stated.

Also, the Commissioner for Arts, Culture and Creative Economy, Mr. Matthew Ekwuruibe said that in the beautification project of the state government, they are painting murals and would be erecting monuments.

“We started a beautification project in the states. If you’re passing around FMC Gate and Osisioma Flyover, you will notice a change. We are also going to go as far as painting murals, doing mural paintings in some of these places.

“Apart from that, we will also commence the erection of a monument in some strategic locations in the states, to ensure that we complement what our principal is doing.

“We have also commenced the official launch of Creative Talent Hunt across the 17 LGA’s. You know why I’m talking about talents. You cannot talk about talent in Nigeria today without mentioning Aba.
Aba is home of talents. It’s the home of curatives, Ekwuruibe stated.

Otti To Flag Off Aba Water Scheme, Other Projects Wednesday is first published on The Whistler Newspaper