Abia sets up literacy centres, probes ABSU over alleged extortion, harassment

By Peter Okore, Umuahia

The Abia State Government says its Agency for Mass Literacy, Adult and Non-Formal Education has established 140 learning centres across the state to expand access to education for adults and individuals who missed formal schooling earlier in life.

The initiative is part of ongoing education reforms under the administration of Governor Alex Otti, aimed at improving literacy levels and widening access to basic education opportunities.

The Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, disclosed this on Tuesday at Government House, Umuahia, while briefing journalists on the outcome of this week’s State Executive Council meeting presided over by the governor.

He said the learning centres were designed to provide a second chance for residents who were unable to complete formal education, adding that the programme complements broader efforts to strengthen the education sector in the state.

Kanu also announced the setting up of a five-man Special Investigative Committee to examine allegations of harassment and extortion involving students and lecturers at Abia State University, Uturu (ABSU).

He said the committee was part of government’s drive to enforce academic integrity and ethical standards in the state-owned institution.

According to him, the committee is chaired by the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Pastor Caleb Ajagba, while the Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Mr Dodoh Okafor, serves as secretary.

Its terms of reference include identifying perpetrators where wrongdoing is established, reviewing allegations of bribery against a lecturer, investigating claims of certificate forgery, and assessing the implementation of the 2024 White Paper on the earlier investigative panel into the university.

Kanu added that the panel would also identify gaps in implementation and make recommendations to the Visitor to the university, in line with ongoing efforts to reposition ABSU as a centre of academic excellence.

In addition, the commissioner announced the commencement of the 2026 Annual School Census across the state, beginning Monday, May 11, 2026, and expected to run for one month.

He said the exercise would provide reliable data for planning and policy formulation in the education sector, as well as improve access to the state’s “Hope Education Intervention Grant.”

The census will cover schools across Abia’s three senatorial districts.

On environmental management, Kanu said the Abia State Environmental Protection Agency (ASEPA) has begun full enforcement of the use of waste bins in commercial vehicles as part of efforts to improve sanitation across the state.

He said the policy was aimed at promoting proper waste disposal habits, noting that the state’s cleanliness drive had contributed to its growing reputation as one of the cleanest in Nigeria.

On infrastructure, the commissioner disclosed that out of 29 roads awarded under contract, three have been completed and will soon be commissioned. These include the Umuogo–Nsukwe ring road (2.213km), the dualisation of Onuimo Bridge–Abia Tower Road (5.95km), and the Nunya–Eluama road expansion project (11.5km).

He added that under the Direct Labour scheme, five roads have also been completed, including maintenance works on the Osisioma Flyover, Port Harcourt–Enugu Expressway section to Ugwunagbo LGA Secretariat, Adaelu Road in Aba, Oberete–Umuopara Road in Obingwa, and the Geometric Power–Guinea Junction axis in Aba.

Kanu further revealed that Governor Otti recently visited the new World Bank Country Director for Nigeria, Mr Matthew Verghis, in Abuja to strengthen collaboration between the state and the global financial institution.

He said the discussions focused on existing partnerships and new areas of cooperation in sectors such as energy, education, agriculture and ICT.

The Commissioner for Poverty Alleviation and Social Protection, Mrs Ngozi Felix, said the engagements with the World Bank aligned with the governor’s development agenda and would support ongoing social investment programmes.

Also speaking, the General Manager of ASEPA, Mazi Ogbonnia Okereke, said the agency’s enforcement of environmental laws was aimed at compliance rather than revenue generation, adding that efforts were underway to deploy more public waste bins across the state.