Abia to benefit from $250m World Bank health security grant – Commissioner

The Abia State Government has been cleared by the World Bank to benefit from a $250 million grant aimed at strengthening health security in Nigeria.

The Commissioner for Information, Okey Kanu, disclosed this on Monday while briefing journalists on the outcome of the State Executive Council meeting presided over by Governor Alex Otti.

Kanu attributed the state’s inclusion in the programme to ongoing reforms in the health sector, noting that these efforts positioned Abia as one of the beneficiary states under the intervention.

“The Abia State Government has been cleared by the World Bank to benefit from a $250 million grant for health security in the country. The ongoing reforms in the health sector helped to qualify the state as one of the beneficiaries,” he stated.

The commissioner further revealed that the Federal Government’s Rural Emergency Services and Maternal Transport Programme has been domesticated in the state to enhance access to emergency healthcare and reduce maternal, child, and neonatal mortality rates.

He also announced that the 2026 edition of the Association of Nigerian Physicians in the Americas (ANPA) Medical Mission would be hosted in the state, with plans to conduct about 1,500 medical consultations and 100 specialised surgeries.

Kanu added that the state’s health sector reforms recently received a boost following a visit by a World Bank team to review public finance systems related to healthcare delivery.

According to him, there were no reported cases of major public health concerns such as Lassa fever, mpox, diphtheria, yellow fever, or cholera within the period under review.

In the education sector, the commissioner disclosed that the Abia State Accelerated Basic Education Programme has commenced, offering residents the opportunity to complete the six year primary school curriculum within three years.

He explained that the initiative, implemented through the Agency for Mass Literacy, Adult and Non Formal Education, is designed for individuals who missed out on basic education earlier in life, enabling them to obtain their First School Leaving Certificate.

Kanu urged residents to take advantage of the programme, describing it as a vital step towards improving literacy and expanding access to education across the state.