₦airaland Forum

ABIA STATE : Government Special Announcement.

Abia State government has observed with dismay the defacing of Umuahia, the state capital, through the indiscriminate parking of vehicles on major roads within the city and its environs.

Places mostly notorious for this indiscriminate act include Osa Road, Aba Road, School Road, Finbers Road, Azikiwe, Road, Bende Road, Umuwaya Road, Umudike Road and others.

Henceforth, government will impound any vehicle parked on these major roads within Umuahia and its environs which will also attract heavy penalty.

Government also frowns at the indiscriminate dumping of waste on major streets within the metropolis and the unattended over grown grasses spotted around residential homes and other public places within the city.

Residents who engage in this embarrassing act are hereby warned to desist from doing so by ensuring they keep their surroundings clean.

Henceforth, those who refuse to comply with this directive will be penalized by government.

We should all help the government of Governor Theodore Orji (Ochendo Global) restore the glorious past of the state capital.

Charles Ajunwa
Chief Press Secretary
To The Executive Governor

Bring the cup home, Governor Orji charges Golden Eaglets--GOV T.A ORJI

Abia State Governor, Chief Theodore Orji, has charged the Golden Eaglets to go all out to win the FIFA Under 17 World Cup taking place in the United Arab Emirates.

In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Charles Ajunwa, Governor Orji who expressed happiness over the 3-0 thrashing of Sweden by Golden Eaglets in their semi-finals match, implored the team to continue to be focused as they get set to play in the finals of the football championship.

Governor Orji who asked the Golden Eaglets to win the trophy for the sports loving Nigerians, said that the whole country has been united by their superlative performance since the championship started.

He said that winning the championship would be a great gift to the peace loving Nigerians who he said are looking forward to mark the country’s 100 years by next year.

Just yesterday, The Abia State free school bus scheme was boosted with additional 15 (Fifteen) new coaster shuttle buses. 9 (Nine) free coaster buses are to be added to the existing Primary and Secondary School free bus scheme. 6 (Six) were donated to all the tertiary institutions in the State for free campus shuttle.

We strongly hope that the free school buses scheme will continue to make mobility easy among our wonderful pupils and students in Abia State.

Government has observed with dismay, a concerted attempt by one Mr. Chinenye Nyerere and the Managing Director of OIL, Mr Goddy Chuwunyere.

Their plot to breach public peace and security has been uncovered by security agents and vigilante Aba citizens.

The duo of Nyerere and Goddy are currently moving round Aba with a Black Toyota Corrola, White Hilux Pick up, a black 406 Peugeot with four fake Mobile Policemen, three females and males whose identities cannot be confirmed but claim to be journalists.

While their motive is geared towards inciting unsuspecting members of the public in Aba against government to breach public peace and security, the Area Commander and police authorities in Aba have denied permitting such movement given activities of many unscrupulous elements at this time.

The general public is by this announcement advised to watch out for these persons, who obviously do not mean well. Mr. Chinenye Nyerere and his friend Goddy, the Managing Director of Oil are equally advised in their own interest to stop forthwith their attempts to breach public peace .

The Security Agencies have been put on alert as the securities of these persons can no longer be guaranteed by government.

Cosmos Ndukwe

Chief of Staff to the Executive Governor

T.A ORJI AWARDS SCHOLARSHIPS TO TWELVES PUPILS

SOURCE : FEDERAL MINISTRY OF INFORMATION

Abia State Governor awards scholarships to twelve debaters The Governor of Abia State, Theodore Orji has awarded scholarships for study to twelve Abia pupils who are winners of the “Most Outstanding Debater Award” in the last Nigeria Pre – Centenary Inter – SUBEB Debate Championship as well as the President’s Schools Debate and Junior Engineers / Technicians Science Competitions conducted in Abuja recently. Theodore Orji made this known in his Executive Committee Chambers when the Chairman of the Abia State Universal Education Board, Mike Onyebuchi presented the pupils, trophy and certificates won to him. He also gave cash rewards of one hundred naira each to the pupils and one million naira to all the teachers who were part of the success story. Orji directed that the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education should work out the total amount of the scholarship from now to their university level in accordance to the basic Abia State fees, inscribing that payment would be deposited in each child’s individual accounts as a fixed deposit that will accrue interest and enable them finance their academics in the future. The Abia State Governor further stated that the children are a special gift of God to the State and expressed gratitude to God for endowing the State with such intelligent children who have left indelible marks on the sands of time. He noted that the outstanding children need to be encouraged to enable them achieve more in life; saying they deserve more than first position. According to him, their parents whose genes produced them and the teachers who tutored and mentored them to the paths of greatness deserve worthy commendations. Theodore Orji applauded the efforts of the State Government for providing the enabling environments which helped them to soar higher; noting that this in line with the present administration’s legacies will be remembered eternally. He thanked them for making the State proud. Adding, their performance has placed the State in the first position in Nigeria. Earlier in his address, the Chairman of ASUBEB, Mike Onyebuchi commented that the awards have recorded another significant milestone in the history of the State. “The pupils have conquered other contingents across the thirty six states and the FCT to emerge winners despite the numerous laurels at the zonal, state, national and international arena in the past. One of the pupils was adjudged the ‘Best Outstanding Debater’ in Nigeria,” he explained. The highlight of the ceremony was the mock debate between Chinyere Onyemenam and Chibuzor Raphael on the topic – “Capital Punishment Should not Remain in the Nigerian Constitution” and the excellent demonstration of the Science Project l on Security Alarm Alertness by Ochiabuto Ifeoma. Source: Federal Ministry of Information

R E V E A L E D***********
ROCHAS MOBILIZING MISCREANTS (IMT CULT MEMBERS) TO STORM ABIA

For some time now, I had exhibited some kind of indifference to the celebrated indignation and rascal attitude of a cowboy who has the rare grace of being the elected Governor of Imo State. May be for some neither here nor there reasons, Rochas Okorocha is one man who has failed to manage the miracle (yes that is what it was) of winning (?) the Imo Governorship Elections in 2011. Few days ago, he incited hired buses gave N2000 each for women and under aged children to disrupt flight operations at Sam Mbakwe airport Owerri in protest of what Almighty Owelle described as “incessant harassment of his aides by security agencies like EFCC, ICPC, SSS etc”. The same Rochas arranged for the beating of Senator Chris Anyanwu for the Senator’s exhibition of amazing popularity.
Precisely on Wedneday 23rd October , 2013; I stumbled on a very heartrending revelation at GALILEE RESTAURANT along Chime Ave Enugu where I had gone to chill out after an obviously hard day. The young men, who were drinking themselves to stupor did not have the faint idea I could know who Rochas was or better still my origin as a Proud Abian. Bit by bit, moment by moment; they were pooling their criminal sense to do the bidding of Rochas Okorocha who has asked them to mobilize as many miscreants as they can get to storm Abia in protest of what Rochas described as embarrassment caused him by the Abia State Government. Each recruited youth would be paid N5,000.
For those who like to call me names or play politics with everything, the young men who I later identified as BOBOS and LAZ were the criminal coordinators of this suicidal mission. They are graduate members of the dreaded Vikings Cult. They have been paid by Rochas to hire and moblize undergraduate students of Institute of Management & Technology (IMT) Enugu. Like their master Rochas, they have no shame and definitely do not fear God.
On 12th of October, 2013; Rochas had planned secretly to visit Abia. Forget the claim that he was coming to pray or celebrate his birthday; he proposed acting out the script authored by Tinubu and his wicked friend Buhari. In his usual display of youthful exuberance, he did not have the courtesy of informing the Governor of Abia State. The school authorities, who denied permitting him to disrupt their exams aborted his trip. Rochas turned around to accuse Abia State Government of disgracing him.
So, Rochas had degenerated to the point of extending his search for criminal collaborators in Enugu? What is it about Abia that would not allow Rochas to continue with his well packaged deceit and grandstanding in Imo State? I thought it is once beaten twice shy?
Somebody should remind Rochas that Abia is too large for him to impose his delinquent tendencies. Now that this sinister plan has been uncovered, can Rochas go back to Imo to attend to his ROUNDABOUTS and FOUNTAIN DISPLAYS? It is so disappointing how one man would be running from pillar to post just to seek for notice when back home he is confronted with myriads of problems. The logjam called APC which Rochas created in Imo would take him a lifetime to solve. The same yesterday his men were perfecting plans to destabilize Abia, Disabled and Physically challenged persons in Imo were seen on National Televisions protesting what they called “lack of sincerity of the Rochas Okorocha administration”. That alone is sufficient to get Rochas’s attention. If he does not take time, Abia will burn his fingers to one irreversible deformity. Let those who clutch towels on their neck like him, go to inform him. For sure, if those boys attempt storming Abia from Enugu or anywhere on this planet, they will surely meet their waterloo.
— with Emma China Onuoha, Emeka Enyiazu, Chijindu Ukachukwu Bethel, Nnaji Obed Asiegbu, Uche Aguoru, Chimaraoke Okoro, Floxy Mbakwe, Chima Kanu, Issy Aguwa, Uchenna Chukwu, Chioma Nelda Efughi, Francisca Ukaegbu, Ndubuisi Ojimadu, Victor Braimoh, Havila Iheka, Grace Irene, Cosmos Ndukwe, Oputaobie Abia, Ulonna Nwafor, Barr Ben Chinedu Kalu, Asagwaram Jude Osy, Amaka Amadi, Emeka Ben, Missigbere Igbere, Ugochukwu Ezenwa Oon, Hon Okorie Matthew Uchechukwu, Obinna Don Norman, Abia Post, Akudo Ivy Ude, Bishop Nelson, IgbereTv CandyVille, Ugochukwu N Emezue, Rex Stephen, Ikwuagwu Kalu, Emeka Cosby Ekekwe, Peter Udensi, Nwabueze Onwuneme, Asonye Abraham, Ndidi Cosmos Ndukwe, Patrikobi Obinalihe, Eunice Peter Udensi, Prince Paul Ikonne, Hendrix Obi, Bille Chima, Immortal Kalu Paschal, Blessing Blossom, Ndukwe Godwill, Daniel Ekechukwu Chimaroke and Biafranliberation Council.

A Microcosm of Abia's Political and Developmental Macrocosm

By Ekekwe Egu

LET me confess that my choice of title for this piece, which in any case is my first in a long while, sounds weird. Having opted for a political and activity hibernation of sort, in the past few years, not a few would have expected me to debut from my self-imposed holiday, smoking with rage, and breathing furiously, vintage OTJ. But time and tide have changed with so many factors contributing to my simmering rather than combative approach in writing. I shall return to that later.

Secondly as one who even as an under-aged, cut his political teeth during the Second Republic, when such colourful politicians as Dr. K. O. Mbadiwe, Dim Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, Dr. M. I. Okpara and Chief Collins Obih (all of blessed memory), held sway in the old Imo and Anambra states, now South East geo-political zone, I underwent tutelage of sort under this great wordsmiths; men who elevated intellectual and factual politicking, laced with flowery clichés and euphemisms, that added so much colour and humor to our socio-political environment and lexicon.

In line with the above, Ochendolopment, my crazy manipulation, was coined to describe my assessment of the infrastructural and developmental progressions, given obvious economic constraints in Abia State. It is a critical evaluation of the application of the available limited funds and rates of success achieved, within a given time frame. In this piece, I will attempt an insight into the actual rate of development in Abia within this second and last segment (2011 to date), of the present Abia Government. I have also elected to ignore the period 2007-2011, variously described and rightly so, as the years of the locust. In so doing, one will draw inferences from and make comparative analysis of the earnings accruing to some of our neighboring states, alongside Abia. I shall also base my assessment on four major sectors viz: General Infrastructural Developments, Power Generation and Security.

One person whose courage I admire a lot, Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State, cried out recently that only N14billion out of about N21billion accruing to his State, has been released for the month of July. Since that assertion remained un-replied even from the appropriate quarters, it stands therefore to reason that our dear Oluwarotimi was right that his State allocation for July was about N21billion. Within this period, the total that aggregated to Abia was about N4 billion. Succinctly put, the ratio between Abia and Rivers allocation is 1:5.

We have it on good authority that Akwa Ibom State earns much higher than its Rivers counterpart. It therefore stands to reason that the developmental efforts in these two states that share common boundary with Abia, cannot be compared with the latter, given their accrued earnings overtime. Howbeit, like the saying in Igboland goes, Ana eji isii ahu amata uto nshi: (translated: You can deduce the real taste of faeces from the foul smell of a fart).

The Bible equally place faithfulness in little assignment as a sign of what one can do with bigger assignment, if and when such is given. With the much the Governor has achieved with the little resources available to him, it stand to reason that if he receives half of what is accruable to Akwa Ibom, he will perform more. Whilst not stating that Abia is today an Eldorado, as that will be unnecessarily sycophantic, but it smacks of bad faith to ascribe nothing positive to the present government, especially in the area of provision of lasting and durable infrastructures.

Umuahia Capital and the indeed the State have of recent witnessed an upswing in infrastructures, viz: The Construction of a new Government House, a new Deputy Governors Lodge, International Conference Centre , new Secretariat Complex and remodeling of the old ones, several housing estates, the Ubani Umuahia Modern Market which is 95% completed, Judiciary and New High Court Complex at both Umuahia and Aba, ASEPA New Headquarters, the Umuahia Specialist Hospital and Dialysis Centre, the reconstruction of Amachara Specialist Hospital, several urban and rural roads at the three senatorial zones of the state amongst others.

One might argue that these are basic infrastructural edifices needed for the take off of the State, but these had been lacking in the past 22 years. With a few exceptions, all other successive governments, to say the least, have been retarding development of the State.
When early last year, I wrote commending the Orji -led Government for a breakthrough checkmating the perennial power supply in the state, not a few arm-chair critics attacked me, both on phone and on the social media.
Few months after, all these areas, including my Item, Bende Local Government Area homeland were re-connected to the national grid. Abians and Nigerians can indeed attest to the fact of the further success recorded in this sector, and equally on the aptness of my prediction. When truth is self evident and facts are so glaring, one need not adumbrate. It is only a matter of weeks that the Aba project under Geometrix will be commissioned. That way the light condition in Aba, and the entire Abia will be fully restored. Yes, it can only get better and better.

Insecurity has posed the greatest challenge in the country. In recent time, the menaces of kidnappers and Boko Haram have assumed an alarming proportion. Abia was a notorious case in point. Kidnappers under the inglorious leadership of the notorious Osisikankwu, had a field day taking people hostage for ransoms. Sometimes people were killed even after huge ransoms were paid.

It reached a climax with the abduction of the kind-hearted medical and legendary generous doctor of Victory Christian Hospital, Aba, who was kidnapped and brutally murdered somewhere in Isiala Ngwa, even after huge sums of money were reportedly paid as ransom. The outrage that greeted his murder was unprecedented. It was obvious that something needed to happen.

The synergy between the Abia Governmant and the Security High Chiefs, notably the Chief of army Staff, led to the arrest and killing of the murderous OSISIKANKWU gang, and the dispersal of the few remaining ones. Abia State citizens now live in peace amongst themselves. It was in recognition of these and the above, that Governor Theodore Orji, received an International Award in October 2012, for ensuring Adequate Security in Abia.

The most unfortunate aspect of it all was that Abia was a state that produced three high level security personnel, in the Army and the Police Force. Lt General Azubuike Ihejirika, the Chief of Army Staff, Ivy Okoronkwo, the then Deputy Inspector General of Police and politically Second In Command, while Azubuko Joel Udah, the then Deputy Inspector General of Police, in Charge of Administration and Operationally Number Two, were all from Abia State. Was it a failure on their part or was it a lack of idea on how to solve the perennial Abia Security Challenge.

Given that the DIG Udah, (now retired), as the Head of the Police Zones 5 and 6, was widely believed to be behind the blueprint of the Amnesty Programme in the Niger Delta region, it was almost impossible to toe that line of thought. It took the political will and sagacity of the Ochendo led Government in Abia, coupled with the tenacity and the determination of the Security High Chiefs of Abia state extraction, to proactively restore sanity and security in Abia State.

The synergy between the Abia Governmant and the Security High Chiefs, notably the Chief of army Staff, led to the arrest and killing of the murderous OSISIKANKWU gang, and the dispersal of the few remaining ones. Abia State citizens now live in peace amongst themselves. It was in recognition of these and the above, that Governor Theodore Orji, received an International Award in October 2012, for ensuring Adequate Security in Abia.

Ekekwe Egu, a public affairs commentator sent in this piece from Abuja.

SOURCE: VANGUARD

‘Orji is Laying Foundation Stones for Abia’


Recently, Abia State marked its 22 years anniversary. In this interview with Anayo Okolie, President-general of the Abia Renaissance Movement (ARM), Hon Godwin Adindu, argues that unlike in other states where the incumbent governors are improving upon what they met on ground, in Abia it is a case of building afresh.

Why did you describe Abia State as an institution that is being built afresh?

It’s unfortunate that in the interviews I previously granted to the press, I described Abia State as an institution that is being built afresh. This is unfortunate because at 22, every institution is expected to have passed through the teething period and should be standing solidly on its feet.
Regrettably, this is not the case with Abia State. Yes, the founding fathers had the vision, but the early administrators did not quite expand or extend the vision. There were so many things left undone and the result is that a lot of burden is today placed on the head of the incumbent governor, Theodore Orji.

In most states today, what the governors are doing is to build upon what is on ground. They are expanding the frontiers of what they inherited as assets. But, here, it is now that Governor Orji is laying the solid foundations for Abia. It is now that nation-building is taking place in Abia. The state is completely being built afresh.

You mean that no former leader ever thought of building monuments?

Yes. Since the creation of the state no single crane has been deployed to work in the entire state. Except for the initial construction works by the federal government, like the old secretariat, no former administrator, both military and civilian, embarked on building monumental projects until Governor Orji came on board.

You cannot see their footprints. It is as if they never were here. Even during the tenure of Governor Orji’s predecessor that ran for eight years, no single crane went to any construction site during that regime. I challenge anybody to point at one outstanding edifice built by these former leaders of Abia.

So in which areas is Abia State being built afresh right now?

In all areas. There was nothing left on ground and nobody thought of setting up permanent structures. Take the case of the Central Market in Umuahia. The location of this market and other markets in the capital city constitute a great environmental problem for the city. The central market is right at the centre of the city.

The timber market is located in an area adjoining the Low Cost Housing Estate and World Bank Housing Estate. These are residential areas.

You could imagine the danger posed by such a market to the residents. All over the years, no leader of Abia State thought it wise to rebuild the Umuahia metropolis by relocating these markets. It has only taken Governor Orji to move the timber market to an area along Ahiaeke, and the Central Market to Ubani Ibeku, along the Umuahia-Uzuakoli Road.
Another example is the Aba flood disaster.

This problem has persisted since the old Imo State when the large Ndiegoro area of Aba was overtaken by water and an entire community with all its life submerged into the flood. You remember that Sam Mbakwe had to go to Lagos, the nation’s capital then, to weep to President Shehu Shagari.

They later christened him, the weeping governor. It was because of Aba flood and other problems that bedeviled the state then. These flood issue had persisted until Governor Orji came to rescue the situation.
You will remember that since two years now, there has not been any flood disaster in Aba.

Even with the heavy rains of last year which caused heavy flood menace all over the country, we didn’t experience much here. And the reason is that Governor Orji tackled the challenge by excavating the mighty School Road gutter that divides the Aba metropolis into two parts.

This gutter is so deep that it can consume a whole duplex. It was built by the colonial administration in the 1920s alongside the birth and planning of the city. The drainage pathway is over 40 feet deep and was constructed in such a way that all other network of gutters in the city empties into the gutter.

But, since 1972 when it was last excavated soon after the war, no administration of the old Eastern Region, Imo State or Abia thought in the direction of excavating the gutter as a measure towards combating the huge flood menace that bedeviled the city for many years.
Over the years, the gutter became a dumping ground for refuse by the residents, to the extent that mighty trees grew on top of the drainage line.

Having filled up the gutter, traders and city dwellers in Aba now built stalls and kiosks right on top of the gutter. This is the untold story of the cause of the regime of flood in Aba. This is how a once beautiful city became a city of flood and filth. But, thank God today that Governor Orji came and confronted the challenge by clearing and excavating the gutter and the other network of gutters. And now, gone are the days of flood in Aba.

What about the area of infrastructure. How is the governor building afresh in this area?

Let us examine them one by one. At 22, Abia State is supposed to have a befitting Government House. Yet, at 22, what serves as a Government House and Governor’s Lodge are clusters of makeshift houses that were once a private guest house of late Commodore Emeka Omerua.

What all the former governors did was to continue to patch the house and add one block in one direction and another block in another direction. At the end, they produced an unplanned and demeaning hybrid that is not worthy to be called a Government House and a Governor’s Lodge.
Today, it has taken Governor Orji to dream of a befitting Government House. The governor is now building a new Government House and has vowed not only to complete it before the expiration of his term but to be the first governor to live in this new edifice. Take another case: the state’s banquet hall.

This is an enlarged classroom that leaves people suffocating during state dinners and banquets. This hall is also unbefitting of the state.

It has also only taken Governor Orji to dream higher and raise the bar for Abians. He is now building a world-class, multi-purpose conference centre in the new area of the state capital and has also promised that next year celebrations will be held in this new edifice.

Is he also building government offices?

Yes. The story is the same with the state secretariat and the civil service offices. In Umuahia, many government offices are scattered all over the city. No former leader had thought of keeping this house in order. Since after the state secretariat, which houses the state ministries, was built by the federal government in 1991, no former leader deemed it fit to renovate and refurbish the big edifice.

There was no maintenance arrangement until Governor Orji put modern Gerard roofing sheets on the edifice and did a total renovation of the place. Not satisfied with that, he embarked on building a twin-four-storey complex which will house all government offices and parastatals such that every government activity will be conducted in one place.

These complexes have been completed. He has also built the Abia Diagnostic Centre in Umahia and Aba and a new set of buildings for the High Court in Umuahia. There are new modern offices for the Broadcasting Corporation of Abia and a functioning skills acquisition centre.

There is a new Abia State Library Headquarters and a new Ministry of Justice building in Umuahia. Inside the House of Assembly complex, he built a new Administrative and Constituency offices. There are so many of them and I can’t go on listing them. But, the emphasis is that these are projects that ought to have been there before now.

People complain so much about the poor state of roads in Abia, what is the governor doing in this area?

Let me answer this with the history of the road leading to my own village of Mgboko, headquarters of Obingwa local council – the Aba /Obikabia Road.

This road was constructed in the 70s, before the creation of Abia State. For over 30 years, no leader of Abia or the old Imo State thought of rehabilitating this badly dilapidated road until Governor Orji came on a rescue mission.

This is just one out of the several rescue missions in the area of road and infrastructure in the two metropolises of Aba and Umuahia and in the rural communities. People were complaining so much about Aba roads.

But, go there now and see the massive work that the governor has done in rebuilding the Aba roads. By May last year, about 16 roads had been commissioned within the metropolis, including the notorious Ukwu Mango Road that leads to the famous Ariaria Market.--This day

In fulfillment of my promise to the traders moving from Umuahia old market to New Umuahia main market at Ubani Ibeku, to provide them shuttle buses that will ferry traders and other people shopping in the market. I have today provided the first batch of four brand new luxurious shuttle buses to this effect. These shuttle buses are to be used to reduce the pains of transportation of our people to the new market and to encourage everyone to patronize the new market. This is a promise made and a promise fulfilled.

Eddie Onuzuruike : The unethical publication of the Pilot Newspaper.

The pilot newspaper of Saturday, September 28, 2013, embarked on a mission of utmost mendacity and blackmail on the people of Abia State and further malign the person of Governor T A Orji, and as it is usual with such odious hatchet jobs, they employed highly unethical modus operandi to attain their aim. Unfortunately for them, the truth about kidnapping in Abia is a well known story to Nigerians and the world. To all discerning minds, it is evident that the pilots screaming headline on the said publication at the front page was hardly substantiated in the following stories on pages 55 and 56.
Abia, like other states in the Southeast and South-south had experienced the harrowing problems of kidnapping, but Abia’s was reported excessively by detractors who wanted Chief T A Orji to get into trouble and be listed among the states where state of emergency were declared but God demurred. The master stroke of Sir T A Orji dealt with kidnapping to a terminal level so superfluously delivered that since then, the Gov has been piling laurels and receiving awards at home and abroad to the extent that no other than the chief security officer of our country, The Inspector General of the Police, IGP Mohamed D Abubarka admitted publicly in a forum that Abia is a case study on crime.
Before the inks dried on the papers of journalists who reported on the observation of the IGP, the Abba Gana led group empanelled by the presidency bestowed the Gov with an award as a National Peace Ambassador, thereby crowning him as a consultant on peace. According to one Nigerian newspaper, the Governor’s profile rose greatly. As was stated: ‘By this award, a great national honour, Orji becomes the light bearer for peace and harmony in Nigeria. He comes to represent not just the ideal but the very dynamics for the attainment of peace. The governor is the new symbol of peace, a brand ambassador for the proposition of the essence and value of peace. He is to serve, in the ongoing search, as the reference point to how best to achieve peace and national unity. As the dialogue and negotiation progress, Orji would become the inspiration for the affirmation of the possibility of national peace. For the promoters and advocates, Orji’s portrait might serve as the new signage for the campaign for a new Nigeria of peaceful co-existence.’
It is on verifiable record that all the newspaper interviews granted by the governor, one recurring question has been: ‘how did you make it?’ What magic did you do?
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According to experts on criminology, crime has become an unwanted partner to growing cities. The New York Police Department NYPD, the London Metropolitan Police, and the Policia in Rome have bloated budgets for crime fighting. It is not only in Nigeria and Abia and should not be personalized. The concerned forces like the army, police, Civil Defence are battling the emerging crimes like pipeline vandalism, crude oil theft, cybercrime and others, so why should Abia be spotted on such negative headline If the pilot means well?
On August 24, 2013, Mike Ozekhome SAN, a front-line lawyer on human rights while on a trip along Benin-Auchi Road was kidnapped and kept in captivity for two weeks. A rescue team of four policemen were killed in the process. On September 7, Archbishop of the Anglican Communion, Ignatius Kattey was dastardly handled and kidnapped at Aleto near Eleme Port Harcourt Rivers State and his lovely wife abandoned in the car they were traveling in. Not too long ago, a traditional Prime Minister, Iyase of Udo near Benin was kidnapped. There are equally cases of three Lebanese, one Briton who were taken in Victoria Island and other Chinese citizens, Xue Song and Zhangwen on July 15 were abducted in Ikorodu Lagos State. These states have not been profiled in such negative terms neither have their governors been so attacked.
The reports on page 56 of the said publication inadvertently gave good evidence that the police in Abia are working, arresting, interrogating and prosecuting in courts of law so why profile Abia and drag the Governors photograph with a screaming headline if it is not a smear campaign?
Talking about baby factories discovered in Aba is another rigmarole. Cases of Baby factories is another crime that is giving the police nightmare and they have recorded success in tracking these varying crimes. On September 2013, one Dr Akpudache was caught by police in his Moon Light Clinic and Maternity in Enugu State. In October 2011, 17 pregnant girls were rescued by police in Ihiala, Anambra State. These are few examples and these did not happen in Abia alone.
These arrests and the awareness created bears testimony that crime is not allowed to run roughshod or unchecked.
We keep saying that owning a newspaper or a page is not enough reason to write damaging reports about people. That Abia Governor is linient should not be seen as weakness. Journalism practice has applicable laws guiding the practice and can easily be invoked against The pilot and their colleagues whose pastime is maligning for pay and recognition. The guild of editors should scrutinize such cases that can easily drag their name to the mud.
The Sun Newspaper and the Nation all have special publications on specific pages on crime where gunrunning and armed robbery make scintillating readings especially the border areas and states like Lagos and Ogun. These states have not received the type of bashing that pilot Newspaper has piled on Abia.
That the Pilot is used for this dirty job is no surprise. The pilot unlike other papers is not even in the Internet for online readers, that for one shows their level.
We noticed that those who took it upon themselves to run Abia down slowed down for about two months and have not done their usual act, so we knew that they were hatching plans having made no success in the past. The truth is that the Pilot, a publication that hardly makes up to 20% sales of their publication is on its way down, consequently in a hurry to drag innocent people along to join the numerous publications that have gone under over the years. The syndrome of the drowning man, who catches every straw available, is at play here as the pilot is rendering damaging publications on everybody not caring whoever they may hurt.
Facts are sacred and opinion is free and I am sure that the pilot with their poor showing, its days are numbered. Embarking on making negative publications cannot save them. It is just a matter of time, history will vindicate the just.

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: ATTEMPTS TO SABOTAGE GOVERNMENT’S EFFORT: NOTICE FOR DEMOLITION OF ILLEGAL STRUCTURES

The attention of the Abia State Government has been drawn to an unfortunate new wave of economic sabotage where traders and artisans within Umuahia and environs erect stalls, make shift buildings and shanties along rail lines, drains and other unauthorized places.
The Government views this act as calculated at frustrating the successful relocation to Umuahia Ultra Modern Market as scheduled. The perpetrators think that by engaging in this illegal erection of structures, they could undermine the good intention of the Government.
Perpetrators of these acts are by this announcement advised to pull down those structures immediately, Local Government, Railway officials or such other persons/establishment who have been issuing all forms of permits or authorities to support these illegal acts are advised in their own interest to withdraw such authorities .
While the State Government reassures the teeming traders of gratifying benefits upon relocation to the Ultra Modern Market, the State Government will soon direct the Abia State Environmental and Allied Matters Task Force to demolish such illegal structures.
Security agencies will thereafter arrest and prosecute any person or group of persons disregarding government’s directive in this regard

Orji Throws Weight behind Enyimba, Abia Warriors

As the euphoria of the Federation Cup triumph of Enyimba International Football Club sweeps through Abia, the state governor, Chief Theodore Orji has assured that the club would receive “full financial and moralsupport” to excel in the forthcoming continental outing of the People’s Elephant.

He gave the assurance on Wednesday while fielding questions from journalists on arrival from Lagos where he had gone to cheer Enyimba to victory over the hard-fighting Warri Wolves in the tension soaked Federation Cup final at the Teslim Balogun Stadium last Sunday.

Orji, who was exuding with joy over the successes recorded by Abia clubs, also promised full financial and moral support to Abia Warriors Football Club, which has gained promotion to the premier league after topping professional league 1B.
“We’ll continue supporting Enyimba and Abia Wariors and all clubs that are doing well and encourage them to be the best,” he said adding, “We’re doing our best within the limits of our resources”.

The Abia chief executive and number one Enyimba fan acknowledged that watching Enyimba come from behind on two occasions to level up created tension in him though his confidence on the People’s Elephant never
wavered.“I was tensed up at that moment but my confidence overcame the tension in me and Enyimba justified the confidence as they won,” he enthused.

With the FA Cup triumph Enyimba have made their way to the continental stage having made their way back to the continental stage, a feat Orji said was well deserving, adding that he was confident that the club would do very well in Africa.
The Abia governor has already described the FA Cup won by Enyimba as a befitting anniversary present for Abia, which clocked 22 on august 27, 2013.

Enyimba has now won the FA Cup three times with two of the victories (2009 and 2013) achieved under Orji’s administration.http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/orji-throws-weight-behind-enyimba-abia-warriors/159381/

In a bid to further alleviate the envisaged problem traders and users of the new modern market at Ubani Ibeku Umuahia may encounter, The Government has purchased some luxurious buses that will be shuttling from Umuahia town to the New Market and back to the Town.

Accordingly a committee that will manage the buses is hereby set up with the following people as members.

The Committee memebers are Elder Onyiyechi Odum as Chairman, John Okey Orji, Emeka Efegwo, Ahamefule Lewechi and Mrs Regina Madudionu.

The Chairman of this committee is hereby directed to meet with the committee on the relocation of the Umuahia Market for the date of their formal inauguration and modalities for the date of operation.

It is true that governance in Abia state has procreated a lot of challenges, consequentially, greatest if the greatest. A few like T.A has comprehended what democratic leadership is and how democracy can be ran to improve development in the wider sense.Leadership starts with nerve-racking passion that seizes you, and will commove the gradation mentality, and this phenomenal apathy varies with leader to leader.
Governor T.A has the mental resources and intellectual gradients which determines how he responds to the challenges and this has yielded much advantages and brought lot of change, either to sustain, transformation, retain growth and uphold the validity of progress Abia state over a period of time.

T.A Orji has examined the backwardness and build up rot which ensues from improper handling of issues that could obviously be traced from the inventive period when Abia state was created . He is a leader that does strive for a balance on its success and continuity,attract development in its justifiable act of genuinely democratic-polity and systematic approach forming basis of a democratic reality.it is true that is widely believed that Abia state can be said to have had a dysfunctional domain of history of downsize performance coming way back as from the time of creation of Abia state. people cast aspersion ,its is an every day norm, and it is always said that Abia leaders, governors, present and past lack transparently most reliable structures, certain operative context and diplomats hinging on knowledge in all their varieties as their ultimate resources and have fallen below the immediate goal of democratization of the electoral process which contradicts what is been expected of them by their followers.

Unlike T.A Orji, some if not all those who were before him were focused on personal interest by employing constricted and artful leadership styles and made no difference. T.A has demonstrated his administration without cynicism, and such an operative system is a necessity to achieving a critical project. He has manifested a firm reliance and his relationship-oriented manner has create the affinity amongst the people of Abia state.

T.A is a leader who is not arrogance, he is neither hostile nor dominance. he is possesses the character of a leader that does not create deep-seated antagonism between his aides and his underlings . T.A ORJI is a leader who is ever ready to endure the trashed heaped on his head, and he must not revile.

The past leaders in Abia had assumed that we do not have any dreams to be fulfilled, they lost track of the rudimentary process which was important to embark on and lead us to our destiny. Propaganda ate deep into their system,selfish interest brought down their values , and the significant of democratic leadership was not met and which made them to fail in their very tenures.

Not too long again before the fruitless tenure of Orji Uzor Kalu collapsed under the weight of repression , dictatorship and autocratic.-he turned the Abia state to a political laboratory and came up with a grandiose political transition that was described as the most non-democratically and non-profitable in of its era which produced no democracy. An administration which created the dullardity of no transformation. OUK's dual tenures were an industry whose business experience held no water in democratic terrain. Obviously he was unable to diffuse the polity in good manner.

But after his eviction from office by constitutional duration, came a man we should support his efforts ,that are spontaneously bringing the desired socio- economic development. T.A Orji made the different and with total consummation we will encourage him to observe continuity and be more clinical in avoidance of uneven disposition of democratic and political influence in order to balance energetic sense of purpose with a concern for the service of others

Attention please,pls you guys should try and see this link,its important about the true face of Abia state http://southeastnewsonline..com/2013/07/photonews-infrastructural-development.html?spref=fb

Abia youth empowerment scheme as a role model


On September 10, 2013, I was going through The Guardian newspaper and saw an advertorial on pages 72 and 73 placed by Abia State government which detailed the 244 recipients of free vehicles courtesy of Abia State Youth Empowerment Programme.

Also contained in the advertorial, apart from the names of the beneficiaries, were their personal phone numbers and the vehicles’ chassis, engine and plate numbers. It was further stated that apart from the published recipients, another set of beneficiaries would be handed over vehicles by the end of this month.

Before the publication I had read in the newspapers, stories of how the Abia State government, through the youth empowerment scheme, had given out several tricycles, sewing machines, computers, cars and others to many unemployed youths in the state.

Initially, I thought the publication was a farce and part of the media propaganda or razzmatazz prevalent among governments at all levels ahead of the 2015 general elections.

I also recalled once reading articles in newspapers written by Mr. Emmanuel Onwubiko and Mr Odimegwu Onwumere in which they strongly criticized and condemned the youth programme and alleged that the government was giving out rickety vehicles to graduates in the name of youth empowerment in the state. But surprisingly, some of the published beneficiaries of the programme were from Anambra and Imo states who were born, brought up and are still residing in Abia State.

To confirm the authenticity of the programme before commenting on it, I put a call through to one of the listed beneficiaries by name, Chinwike Ukpaka from Anambra State. Asked about the kind of vehicle given to him, he said it was a fairly used (Tokunbo) Toyota Camry 2003 model.

He said that he was surprised over his selection as one of the beneficiaries, having graduated from university some years ago without any means of livelihood. I asked him if he is a member of PDP in the state, he said no, but he was born and brought up in the state. He further informed that the car is presently being for commercial transportation in the state capital Umuahia.

So the question is, in which way has the state government erred through the implementation of the Abia Youth Empowerment Scheme to warrant some cynics and hatchet jobbers to be criticizing it on the pages of newspapers?

From every indication, there is absolutely nothing wrong with the programme, especially as it is being used to address the massive unemployment among the youths, which has become prevalent in the country and is today one of the greatest challenges facing the nation.

If unemployed graduates can easily engage in kidnapping as confirmed by Mr. Mike Ozehkome (SAN) who was recently released by his abductors in Edo State after being held captive for days, what is wrong in empowering such graduates by giving them free vehicles so that they can use same to earn a legitimate living?

If well managed, beneficiaries of such gesture from government do not need any white collar job because they can be employers of labour like great transporters of our time such as Young Shall Grow Motors, Peace Mass Transit, Chisco Transports, The Lord Is Good Motors and others.

The collapse of major industries across the country did not begin today; rather it is as a result of long years of neglect by successive governments before now. And it is clear that the industries cannot be fixed overnight because of the huge capital and technical knowhow required, having been neglected for decades.

So investing a huge chunk of public funds in their revitalization will surely affect other critical sectors of the economy that also require urgent attention. In this regard, while the Abia State government is working on revitalizing the ailing industries it inherited, her idea of doing something in the immediate to tackle youth unemployment through her youth empowerment scheme should be highly commended.

Waiting until the ailing industries are brought back to life before the unemployed youths could be empowered will only create a time bomb. That is why states across the country should adopt the Abia Youth Empowerment Programme Scheme model to pre-empt possible youths restiveness. It is a more practical approach to youth empowerment. Also the long_ term approach, which has to do with the revitalization and construction of industries should be worked on.

The Abia scheme is the surest way of taking the unemployed youths out of the streets to reduce crime rate. No wonder the crime rate in Abia State has reduced drastically since the commencement of the programme.

The success of the programme is predicated on the fact that it is being carried out in a most transparent manner which has made it difficult for politicians to hijack it for selfish political purposes. There are no middlemen between the beneficiaries and the state government to avoid exploitation and fraud.

Despite the baseless criticisms by few hired individuals who have failed to provide clear alternatives, the state government should continue with the programme and also impress it on the in_coming government in 2015 to sustain it, at least pending the final completion of the ailing industries that are undergoing rehabilitation in the state.

Mr. Osakwe Ikeji, a civil servant, wrote from Onitsha, Anambra State.
- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/09/abia-youth-empowerment-scheme-as-a-role-model/#sthash.XgQnj2IU.dpuf

Also, the Ochendo led Abia State government has embarked on the construction of 12 additional court halls at the High Court Complexes in Aba and Umuahia. No doubt, when completed, they will impact positively in the quick dispensation of justice. The projects are expected to be completed before the end of the year. The 3(no) new NYSC hostel blocks and 1 (no) staff building projects embarked upon by the state government at the permanent orientation camp at Umunna has almost been completed just as construction work at the Isieke Housing Estate, Umuahia is progressing steadily and nearing-Completion. An initial 30 units of 3-bedroom bungalows.
Renovation, construction and installation works at the Abia house, Abuja is also in progress.

The new civil servants secretariat, a four storey building has already been roofed and the other(l no.) four storey building is at the roofing stage even as the old one is undergoing renovation, while work at the 5,000 capacity International conference centre, Umuahia has reached 90% completion. The government has also deemed it necessary to alleviate the accommodation problem facing other government establishments in the state. Hence it has embarked on the construction of a 48-room office complex at the Broadcasting Corporation of Abia State, fully remodeled and expanded the Customary of Appeal building Umuahia and embarked on the construction of two massive storey building at the ministry of Justice. The old structures at the ministry have been given a face lift. The modern Abia State Planning Commission office complex has been completed

Ochendo is working,atleast he has recorded many achievement in health sector ,provided a lot to the youth to which many of them has relied on to lead a good life
T.A would remained honoured with sufficient grace to carry on the affairs of this great state of what many have described as one of the poorest states in the South East .His labour shall not be in vain, he has been steadfast, and has not be deterred by criticisms of those who knows nothing about democracy, about moral burden he inherited .But despite the challenges, he has made quite a huge effort which has resulted to a speedy development of our twenty two year old state. It’s obvious that the impact and contribution may have not been felt so swiftly, but am sure that in no less a time to come; Abians will find T.A Orji for more honours.

I am inspecting the new Umuahia Main Market to ascertain the level of work, this is following the recent relocation notice to the traders at the Umuahia main market.However, with the current state of work at the new Umuahia, we are optimistic that the relocation deadline will be achieved.---T.A .ORJI

who said T.A is not working ,who said Abia is a refuse Dumb,i think the person is mad...T.A has been outstanding in his second tenure...these are some of his achievement

Abia state government since the inception of the 2nd tenure of Chief T. A. Orji has made tremendous achievements in the area of water and electricity through the ministry of public utilities.
In the area of water,” a comprehensive consultancy services has been carried out on how to rehabilitate the old Umuahia Urban water scheme and other water schemes in the state through the ministry of public utilities and water Resources. The ministry is also liaising with the federal ministry of Niger Delta for the Regional water schemes in the state to be captured in the federal government’s subsidy Removal Reinvestment programme (SUREP).
This will involve the reconstruction, rehabilitation and expansion of the water schemes. Also, the rehabilitation of Umuokpara water scheme has been executed. In the area of electricity the timely intervention by the state government facilitated the inspection and pre -commissioning tests of the Completed 132kv network from Alaoji- Umuahia and the 132/33 KV injection substation equally energized. Consequently, the state government in 2011 awarded contract for the construction of 5no 33kv High Tension feeder lines from the Ohiya 2×30 MVA, 132/33kv injection substation.
The 5 No 33KV feeder lines radiates from Ohiya injection sub-station to the following locations – Afara, Ubakala, Nkwoegwu, Ntigha Umungwa. Construction work along Afara, Ubakala, Nkwoegwu and Umungwa has been completed while work on the Ntigha axis is in progress. This has greatly increased the electricity supply situationin Umuahia metropolis and its environs.
In addition, government initiated and completed the installation of solar energy streetlights in the following areas of Umuahia metropolis-house of Assembly junction to Bende Road, Ndume Otuka Road, Road 3 Low Cost Housing Estate, Health centre Road, World Bank, Adelabu street and Bende road which has reached about 80% completion.

Deconstructing the Abia Assault Dogs

By Abiaawakening

IN one of my recent articles published in some national dailies, I did raise my discomfort with the wave of abuse which the social media via the Internet is presently enmeshed in. I took Abia as a case study. My reason for the choice of Abia is unarguably obvious.

Not quite long after my position was made known, I read one of the most wicked and mindless posts courtesy of Saharareporters all calculated at maligning the government of Abia State under the stewardship of Chief Theodore Ahamefule Orji. In its latest onslaught, the gladiators in their usual manner stood the the truth on its head.

The most bizarre of all was its poisoned chalice to readers that the beneficiaries of State Youth Empowerment Scheme were made to pay for the vehicles that were issued to them. Of course such blanket lies do gain myopia believers.

The Internet came alive with comments from mostly jaundiced scoundrels who love to hate the name Ochendo. While recently I sat quietly in a public gathering where commentators rose in strong discountenance of the worthless report, I felt inward joy that albeit all mundane efforts by detractors, the average Abia indigene is not unmindful of the political mixture of wheat with chaff otherwise known as "mixkogbuo" in local parlance to hoodwink ignorant masses.

What has remained a puzzle to me and should be to all discerning minds is whether Saharareporters for its obvious disdain for Abia State woke up and went to town with the story or that its reporters spoke to some of the beneficiaries of the Scheme who made such allegation.

I was and am still one of those who believe that the government was carrying too much burden in giving out a Toyota Sienna free of charge to any person under whatever guise or considerations. Empowerment, yes. The government owes it as its obligation to its citizens but there is also a corollary obligation on the part of the same citizens.

There is no free meal any where and not even in Freetown. Even in the so-called developed countries, quite a number of our frustrated nationals rush to escape perseverance, citizenship or residency demands and obligations are non-negotiable as manifested in system and rate of taxation.

Like I stated in my expressed opinion, my knowledge of the feelings of the average Abia man does not in any way suggest that these actions syndicating falsehood have any bearing directly or indirectly on how the people of Abia see their Governor. The fellowship and follower ship are devoid of any form of adulteration.
By: The Abia Awakening

T.A ORJI WOULD BE REMEMBERED AFTERWARDS FOR GOOD

By Patrikobi Obinalihe

T.A would remained honoured with sufficient grace to carry on the affairs of this great state of what many have described as one of the poorest states in the South East .His labour shall not be in vain, he has been steadfast, and has not be deterred by criticisms of those who knows nothing about democracy, about moral burden he inherited .But despite the challenges, he has made quite a huge effort which has resulted to a speedy development of our twenty two year old state. It’s obvious that the impact and contribution may have not been felt so swiftly, but am sure that in no less a time to come; Abians will find T.A Orji for more honours.

I saw how he started building a workers secretariat which seven executives (including two civilians) could not do. Visiting to what used to be general hospital Amachara and u will discover great transformation which T.A Orji has carried out. That hospital brings s me feeling of good memory, because my mom always told me I was born there. I am glad that the glory of the hospital and on the other hand saves us the agony of losing our loves ones to curable ailment. I would urge us to take a walk to the hospital; there are essential facilities at the specialist Hospital which are world class. You would be astonished as to the money invested in securing duality facilities like the dialysis machines, the MRI machines and more. Those who think these facilities do not mean anything should wait until they are struck by ailments.

I did not forget the tranquillity that has been the order of the day over the former Timber Market around World Bank Housing estate. Visiting the Industrial Market further confirmed that a huge difference has taken place in the Abia state.
T.A orji has reconstructed the seemingly intractable Osisioma Deport Road. In his wisdom, he encouraged Prof.Barth Nnaji to keep alive his geometric power station dream by providing access roads and other infrastructure. T.A also summoned courage to open up the famous school road drainage. I did not forget how overzealous trader that filled the Aba environ occupied the drainage systems and built shops on them. That was the constitutor of the failure of most roads I have heard people cry of few road in Aba that are not good but if we can give heed to the government calls for a proper utility of facilities as they will help us to maintain a healthy environment.

T.A has made concerted effort to rescue Aba . Taken a smooth ride to Water side University of Nigeria Institute of Languages .That long stretch of road ,reconstructed by T.A shows how much of a leader he is .At Milverton .i saw how he offered Luxurious bus owners and transporters long lease of life. The Milverton Road is an achievement .I could remember some time ago that the bad condition of that road made most transporters to withdraw their services from Aba.The consequences was most commuters; especially the predominant Aba business class had only limited choices. Take a long stretch to Azikiwe Road you will discover there is no port holes where Azikiwe to Asa road used to be traffic den owning to the gullies that dotted the entire road .Speaking about Ukwu Mango road, it’s been reconstructed yet I hear a few say it’s been neglected, but this to me is a blind argument about that road. We know what people suffered within the area of Aba for well over thirty years, but the rescue operation he carried out face-lifted the entire Aba area to a greater good for the people.

Over 220 Primary Health Centres and the on-going youth empowerment which T.A initiated and is still in progress may be for another, and above all I feel I owe a lot to you by your rare exhibition of love for your people. You have voted to reduce poverty among the citizens of Abia State ,i can only ask for a more fruitful years ahead of you, and long life.

@Echem,you are talking shit ,Abia have had some changes ,poverty has be wiped clean from the land, kidnapping and Armed Robbery is a thing of the past, all roads are motorable, everyone feeds well, all the streets and homes have lights (guess there's an awesome gas turbine providing that), free education for all (did ABSU student protest recently), no hassle, no stress; all thanks to TA Orji, the most performing Governor in Nigeria.

ORJI UZOR KALU in conjucntion with his NJIKO NDI IGBO and DIVINE MANDATE is set to to redicule the presidency. He e is bent on getting all (at all cost) videos and images of the Okirika scene between DAME PATIENCE JONATHAN AMAECHI. He is dire need of causing the video to go viral on net. OUK trades in blackmail ,subterfuge and confusion . Who is still in doubt that ORJI UZOR KALU is evil?

A tour of the Ultra modern Abia State Diagnostic centre, Umuahia.

In Abia state, the health sector has been remarkably transformed. One of the notable achievements of the Orji led administration in the Health sector is the establishment of the Abia State Specialist Hospital & Diagnostic center . Located strategically in Umuahia and Aba, citizens have access to a variety of diagnostic machines.
The centre, which first of its kind in the South East zone of the country, is part of the completed and ongoing projects embarked upon by the Theodore Orji administration; and has been commended by experts as a revolution in the health sector.
It is noteworthy to mention that before the facility was brought to Abia, the only specialist Hospital for the South East was at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital in Enugu.
In a chat with Professor A U Mbanaso, Personal physician to his Excellency and Medical Director of Abia Diagnostic Complex, he disclosed that the governor was inspired after Governor Theodore Orji visited Howard University Teaching Hospital in September 2007. It was the Governor’s vision to replicate the structure of the fully equipped health facility in Washington D.C

Commissioned by President Goodluck Jonathan in February 2011, the Abia State Specialist and Diagnostic center is in partnership with Me-Cure Limited.

Medical Imaging Consultant, Mr.Chima Chukwu gave the SouthEastNigeria.com team an extensive tour of the facility and we are pleased to report our findings
This is the MRI unit of the Abia State Specialist and Diagnostic facility in Umuahia.
An MRI is done for many reasons. It is used to find problems such as tumors, bleeding, injury, blood vessel diseases, or infection. MRI also may be done to provide more information about a problem seen on an X-ray, ultrasound scan, or CT scan.

The images obtained from the MRI scan are reviewed remotely on-site…

Chukwu further explained that through the partnership with Me-cure of India, the facility was fully equipped with the most update diagnostic laboratory
The diagnostic center has a Mammography unit. A mammogram is an x-tray of the mammary glands (breasts) Many small tumors can be seen on a mammogram before they can be felt by a woman or her doctor. The procedure is done to screen for breast cancer even in women without symptoms and it also detects the cancer in women with symptoms.
Sadly, Breast cancer has grown to become the leading cause of death of Nigerian women above child bearing age. The chance of a woman having breast cancer during her life is 1 in 8. ….
Remember, early detection is key in the treatment of breast cancer
The Dialysis center at the Abia State Specialist Hospital is equipped with seven machines in total. Out of the six are functional units, two are assigned for patients suffering from HIV and Hepatitis respectively. SouthEastNigeria.com learnt that this was done to avoid complications which may result from contamination of blood.
Dialysis is a potentially life-saving treatment for people who would otherwise experience significant disability, pain and eventually death. It replicates many of the kidney’s functions.
Many people will remain on dialysis on a long-term basis but for a significant minority, the goal will be a kidney transplant.
In response to our inquiry about the fees involved, Mr. Chukwu explained that the cost was being subsidized by the Abia State Government.
In most facilities across Nigeria, an average session costs between N20,000 – N25,000 . The Federal Medical Center in Umuahia charges N25,000 per session however, Abians who wish to utilize the facility at the state owned Specialist Hospital will enjoy a subsidized rate of N15,000.

In a dialysis facility setting, water is the only common risk factor that affects all patients receiving treatments.
For each treatment, water is mixed with dialysate concentrate to form the dialysate, which then helps transport metabolic waste and excess fluids from the blood stream of a patient with compromised kidney function. Upon request, our camera’s were granted access to view the treatment area. General and special sanitary standards were met…


In addition, the Abia State Specialist Hospital and Diagnostic center in Umuahia aslo has a Computerized Tomography equipment. (CT ) for short, the scan provides information for Doctors needed to obtain accurate result of an unsuspected disease.

While speaking at the commissioning of the multimillion dialysis centre of Abia State Specialist Hospital and Diagnostic Centre in Umuahia, Honourable Minister for Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu applauded the Abia state governor, Theodore Orji.

Describing the project as “an excellent philanthropic effort translating to a quantum boost in excellent healthcare“, he stressed that the project underscored the State’s commitment to the provision of quality and affordable healthcare which aligned with the transformation agenda of the President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration . The Minister, however called on the Abia state government to enroll in the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) to make access to healthcare for majority of Abians affordable.

Other notable achievements of the Orji administration include the establishment of 250 Primary health centres (PHCS) in all political wards across the 17 Local government areas; free maternal services for pregnant women; reconstruction of General hospital and the construction of the 100 bed wards in 9 LGA

Gov. T.A Orji, the Prime Ambassador of Health Care

Today 19th day of July 2013, the Governor of Abia State Sir T.A orji conferred a prestigious Award as the PRIME AMBASSADOR OF HEALTH CARE by the Nigerian Optometric Association as a confirmation on his laudable contribution on Health Care Service

Abia government insists it is not marginalized by FG


Abia State Government has said it does not see itself being marginalized by the Federal Government in the area of locating tertiary institutions.

Governor Theodore Orji, who said this Monday evening, shortly after returning from China, said that the state was expecting the Federal Government to take over some of the state’s tertiary institutions.

According to Governor Orji, the state Government had already written to the Federal Government requesting it to take over some of the institutions.

The institutions, Orji disclosed include the Abia State Polytechnic, Aba; Abia State College of Education, Arochukwu and the Abia State University Teaching Hospital, (ABSUTH).

The governor said that the state was very optimistic that the Federal Government would take over the institutions and run them.

He added that the state was eagerly waiting for a favourable response from the Federal Government on the request.

Presently, the only Federal tertiary institution in the state is Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, near Umuahia, the state capital.

On the trip to China, Governor Orji announced that it was a huge success.

According to him, the trip had opened way for Chinese investors to come and invest in the state.

Orji disclosed that he met several investors with interest in various areas and assured them of the favourable investment environment available to them.

He expressed hope that very soon some of them would visit the state.

Besides, Orji said that Abia state would benefit from the bilateral agreements Nigeria signed with the China, especially http://dailypost.com.ng/2013/07/16/abia-government-insists-it-is-not-marginalized-by-fg/ in the railway services.

you did not see all this ,its also from Abia state...the governor is working,dont mind people who say he is not workin

Good people who are appreciating the governor's dded will gladdenly say something good,only haters will say he is not working..good one from T.A ORJI