FIC Report (Abia State) – The Federal Government’s effort to expand health insurance enrolment across the country has received a major boost, with Abia State surpassing its 2025 enrolment target.
According to the Abia State Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, the state’s formal health sector insurance scheme has already enrolled 107,269 persons, far above the projected 1,000 enrollees for the year as of August 17, 2025. He described the achievement as a resounding success, underscoring Abia’s commitment to strengthening healthcare delivery in line with federal government initiatives.
Kanu disclosed this on Monday during a press briefing at the Government House, Umuahia, after the week’s Executive Council (EXCO) meeting presided over by Governor Alex Otti.
The Commissioner revealed that Abia State has completed 140 Primary Health Centres (PHCs) under “Project Ekwueme,” with 33 already undergoing functionalisation and another 50 scheduled before the end of September. He further noted that two cottage hospitals at Abayi and Umuihe are ready for commissioning, while work is ongoing at several general hospitals, including Okeikpe, Ikwuano, and Obingwa.
Also, the state is establishing isolation centres at the Infectious Disease Hospital, Aba, and the Uzuakoli Leprosy Centre, in addition to its flagship Abayi Specialist Hospital and Diagnostic Centre.
Commissioner for Health, Prof. Enoch Ogbonnaya Uche, said the EXCO has also approved the domestication of the Federal Government’s Maternal Mortality Reduction Innovation Initiative in Abia to combat maternal deaths. He announced the establishment of new general hospitals in Ohanku, Ukwa East, and Umunneochi, as well as the re-establishment of a general hospital in Okpualangwa.
In a related development, the state government is moving to ease parents’ financial burden and restore accountability in the education system. It has resolved to abolish graduation ceremonies for nursery pupils, primary school pupils, and secondary students not in terminal classes.
Prince Kanu explained that the decision followed consultations with education stakeholders—including WAEC, NECO, NUT, ANCOPS, publishers, and parents—who agreed that the ceremonies imposed unnecessary costs on families. Henceforth, graduation will be restricted to Primary 6 and SS3 students.
Similarly, the government is working to separate textbooks from workbooks, ending the practice by publishers that prevents younger siblings from reusing textbooks.
Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Elder Goodluck Ubochi, stressed that schoolsu must not charge more than ₦2,000 for Primary 6 and Basic Education certificates, and ₦4,000 for Secondary School certificates. He further announced that students must now pass a mandatory promotion exam in SS2 before proceeding to SS3, and will no longer be allowed to change schools between SS2 and SS3 to register for external exams—a move aimed at curbing malpractice.
Ubochi added that the government has completed intensive training for newly recruited teachers and adjusted their postings to address accessibility concerns, with incentives planned for those serving in hard-to-reach schools. Renovations and construction works are also ongoing in 63 schools across the state.
With its accelerated health insurance enrolment, sweeping educational reforms, and massive investment in healthcare infrastructure, Abia State is positioning itself as a model for effective domestication of federal policies.
Medical consultants, during a recent meeting in Enugu, lauded Governor Alex Otti’s administration for introducing a new salary scale for health workers and rejuvenating healthcare infrastructure, affirming that the reforms are setting a new benchmark in service delivery.
Signed
Abiakam Gloria Ify
HOC, FIC Umuahia, Abia State.
9th September 2025.
