Govt begins field enumeration of solid mineral deposits in Abia

Govt begins field enumeration of solid mineral deposits in Abia

By Steve Oko

Abia State Government says it has commenced a state-wide field study of the solid mineral deposits in the state with a view to determining their quantity and commercial viability.

Commissioner for Information who disclosed this during a press briefing on the outcome of the State Executive Council meeting, said the state Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, had been mandated to undertake the assignment.

Abia State, according to him, has about 17 mineral, adding that ascertaining the quantities of the mineral deposits will enable relevant industries to set up in areas where the minerals are in commercial quantity.

Abia gets new specialist hospital

The Information Commissioner said that the that Executive Council meeting approved the upgrading of the Umunneato General Hospital to a specialist hospital to serve Abia North senatorial zone.

This, according to him, will bring to three, the number of state-owned specialists hospital in Abia.

“The development is in line with the state government’s strategic infrastructural development agenda of ensuring that every part of the state feels the impact of the development strides of the present administration”, he explained.

He said:”This brings to three, the number of state-owned Specialist hospitals in the state with each located in the three senatorial zones of the state; while ABSUTH serves Abia South, Abia Specialist Hospital Umuahia and its Annex at Amachara will serve Abia Central and Umunneato will serve Abia north.

“This development underscores the high premium that the state government places on the health sector. The vision is to ensure that Abians have easy access to well equipped hospitals and affordable healthcare,

“For this upgrade, the idea is to make sure that we have referral hospitals located in the three senatorial zones such that people need not to travel too far to go and receive medical attention”.

Kanu further disclosed that the ongoing retrofitting of two hundred primary health centers tagged ‘Project Ekwueme’ has achieved 55% completion with about 10 of them ready for commissioning.

He explained that the World Bank Impact Primary Health Centers project has commenced in most of the 67 primary health centres across the state, adding that the World Bank Impact project is different from the state government’s ‘Project Ekwueme’.

“This state has about 948 primary health centres and Project Ekwueme started with 200 in the 184 wards in the first phase. The second phase will commence once the 200 PHC’s are fully delivered.

Speaking further, he said the State Government in partnership with the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN) , had floated an SPV(Special Purpose Vehicle) called ABTAN ENERGY Ltd.

This, he said, “is to enable them tap into the rich oil and gas resources of the state.”

He said that the development was aimed at consolidating the business relationship between the state government and PETAN.

The Commissioner said that the state had about 100 capped oil wells, and that the move would provide the state government the unhindered opportunity to partake in the oil industry.

“if you recall not too long ago we reported that there was an agreement between the state government and PETAN now that move has gone a step further with the floating of this SPV that is meant to consolidate the business relationship between the state government and PETAN,” Prince Kanu stated.

The Commissioner cautioned civil society groups and their sponsors against peddling falsehood to blackmail the Abia State Government, warning that Government will not tolerate any attempt to tarnish its efforts.

 

.

Steve Oko, Publisher/C.E.O, WaWa News Global. For more information on advert placement and news coverage, contact us on: 08038725600, or via email stevemanofgod2000@yahoo.com; wawanewsglobal@gmail.com Always read WaWa News Global - Your most dependable online news platform for the latest breaking news in Nigeria.

About The Author