FIC Report (Abia State) – The National Assembly has placed Abia State on a positive national spotlight following the commendation by the House of Representatives Committee on Health Services, which rated the state’s health sector reforms as excellent after an oversight visit.
This is an endorsement that underscores the growing federal relevance and impact of Abia’s governance reforms.
Riding on this momentum, the Abia State Government has unveiled the Abia Electronic Health (E-Health) Project, a flagship initiative aimed at migrating the state’s healthcare delivery from analogue, paper-based records to a fully digitised system.
Briefing journalists at Government House, Umuahia, after the State Executive Council meeting chaired by Governor Alex C. Otti, the Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, said the E-Health initiative is a central component of the administration’s drive to build a comprehensive digital ecosystem across governance in Abia State.
According to Prince Kanu, the project implemented in partnership with E-Health and Life-Health Hubs—covers telemedicine and other technology-driven healthcare solutions designed to improve efficiency, enhance access to quality care, and deepen universal health coverage, particularly at the primary healthcare level.
He disclosed that members of the House of Representatives Committee on Health Services, led by Hon. Dr. Amos Malaji, recently reviewed ongoing reforms in Abia’s health sector and awarded the state an excellent grade, commending Governor Otti for measurable achievements in primary healthcare delivery and universal health coverage.
Prince Kanu also announced the formal rollout of the Measles and Rubella Vaccination Campaign, flagged off earlier on Tuesday by the Wife of the Governor, Mrs. Priscilla Otti. He stressed that the campaign targets children between 9 months and 14 years and will be conducted across Primary Health Centres, health facilities, and schools statewide.
The Commissioner further revealed that newly employed health workers have undergone orientation and onboarding to familiarise them with their responsibilities and the governance structure of the sector. He added that there is currently no report of any disease of public health importance in the state.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Health, Professor Enoch Ogbonnaya Uche, described the E-Health project as a central pillar of Governor Otti’s health reform agenda. He said the deployment of digital health solutions would expand access to care, improve service quality, and address manpower shortages, especially in rural and hard-to-reach communities.
Professor Uche explained that the system would eliminate inefficiencies associated with paper-based records, prevent loss of patient information, reduce delays during follow-up visits, and ensure seamless access to patient histories through secured digital archives.
“This approach ensures uniform healthcare standards across the state while addressing the challenge of limited skilled manpower. With this system, I can monitor, in real time, activities in all primary healthcare centres, general hospitals and tertiary hospitals across the state from my office,” he stated.
In a related development, the State Executive Council approved the establishment of an SME Village and Innovation Hub in Aba, aimed at strengthening small and medium-scale enterprises as drivers of economic growth.
Prince Kanu said the SME Village would accommodate computer dealers, mobile phone sellers, repair technicians and related businesses, while also helping to decongest parts of Aba currently affected by unregulated commercial activities.
He further disclosed that a one-stop Export Growth Lab and Trade Support Facility located within the premises of Ogbonnaya Onu Polytechnic, Aba, is nearing completion and is expected to be inaugurated before the end of February.
Describing the initiatives as part of the administration’s deliberate policy thrust, Prince Kanu said the projects are designed to remove bureaucratic bottlenecks faced by SMEs, manufacturers and exporters, while positioning Aba as a more competitive commercial hub.
“When fully operational, the Export Growth Lab will assist in activities such as business registration, NAFDAC approvals and other trade facilitation services,” he said.
On transportation, the Commissioner announced plans to introduce electronic ticketing for the newly rolled-out electric bus services. He recalled that the pilot phase, which offered free rides, has been running since December 22 and would end by late February, after which commuters would pay subsidised fares to ensure sustainability.
He explained that the fare system would be based on distance and moderated by government, while the electronic ticketing would eliminate cash handling through the use of contactless smart cards, prepaid and pay-as-you-go options, time-stamped transactions and a centralised revenue monitoring dashboard.
Providing performance data, Prince Kanu revealed that between December 22 and January 29, the scheme transported 106,116 passengers, covering 74,796.6 kilometres, with 14 buses deployed daily and an average of 3,034 passengers per day.
He assured that the mass transit scheme would complement, not displace, existing transport operators such as tricycles and minibuses, while offering residents a choice of safer, more affordable and efficient mobility options.
Contributing, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Transportation, Dr. Obioma Nwaogbe, said extensive sensitisation is ongoing to familiarise residents with the electronic ticketing system.
“Our people are used to paying cash, so we are educating them. The system is simple—tap and pay. There will be vendors at bus shelters to help load cards, and agents will assist the elderly and those unfamiliar with the technology,” he explained.
Dr. Nwaogbe added that the electric buses would operate on multiple routes, with orderly boarding and queue systems, stressing that the initiative represents a shift towards a modern, world-class urban mass transit experience in Abia State.
Signed
Abiakam Gloria Ify
HOC FIC Umuahia Abia State.
Febuary 3,2026
