UMUAHIA: The Abia State Government has commenced steps to fully implement the Senior Citizens Law signed in 2025 by Governor Alex Otti, while also unveiling plans to introduce new policies aimed at accelerating industrial and economic development in the state.
The Commissioner for Information, Okey Kanu, disclosed this while briefing journalists after the State Executive Council meeting held in Umuahia and presided over by Governor Otti.
Kanu explained that the state government has produced a draft policy manual designed to guide the implementation of the Senior Citizens Law No. 4 of 2025.
According to him, the document clarifies the provisions of the law and outlines detailed procedures for its execution.
He said the policy became necessary due to what he described as widespread misunderstanding and misinterpretation of the law among members of the public.
“The policy document provides a detailed breakdown of the provisions of the law and the modalities for its implementation.
The clarification is necessary because many people have misunderstood what the law is meant to achieve, the commissioner stated.
Kanu emphasised that the legislation was enacted to ensure the welfare, protection, independence and dignity of elderly citizens in the state.
The law addresses various aspects of senior citizens’ wellbeing, including healthcare, psychological support and social protection.
He clarified that the law was not designed primarily to provide direct cash payments to elderly persons, as widely speculated by some members of the public.
Instead, the policy outlines programmes such as housing support for indigent and displaced elderly citizens, healthcare assistance for vulnerable older persons, financial and social insurance schemes, as well as food and nutritional support targeted at senior citizens.
Other initiatives include the annual celebration of International Day of Older Persons and broader social support programmes aimed at improving the quality of life of the elderly population.
The Abia State Government remains fully committed to the effective implementation of the Senior Citizens Law and related policy initiatives that will guarantee social protection for vulnerable elderly citizens across the state, Kanu assured.
The Commissioner for Poverty Alleviation and Social Protection, Ngozi Felix, also revealed that Governor Otti has approved the constitution of a nine-member committee tasked with developing the policy framework.
She expressed optimism that the final document would be ready by April 2026 for public review.
Felix added that the office responsible for coordinating the affairs of senior citizens in the state is currently operating from a temporary location but will soon be relocated to a permanent facility.
She further noted that the government plans to establish a governing board that will oversee the implementation of the Senior Citizens Law.
Meanwhile, the state government is also working on a new Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Policy aimed at strengthening economic growth and expanding business opportunities in Abia.
Kanu explained that the policy will be launched through the state Ministry of Industry and SMEs and will align with Nigeria’s national MSME policy framework while addressing the unique business environment in the state.
According to him, the policy is expected to be launched before the end of September 2026 and will serve as a strategic framework for creating an enabling environment for businesses.
The initiative is expected to enhance access to finance, improve trading opportunities and promote market equality for entrepreneurs in the state.
The commissioner said the policy aims to increase the contribution of the business sector to the state’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by about 30 per cent by 2030.
He added that the policy would also focus on stimulating job creation and addressing economic disparities between rural and urban areas.
In addition, the Abia State Government plans to establish a Citizens Contact Centre, a platform designed to strengthen communication between residents and government agencies.
Kanu said the initiative would enable citizens to report complaints and provide feedback directly to government officials, thereby improving service delivery and governance.
According to him, the centre will also help reduce the burden on government offices by addressing routine public enquiries through a structured communication system.
The commissioner also highlighted progress in the state’s health sector, noting that the Abia State University Teaching Hospital has regained full accreditation from the West African College of Physicians to train doctors in community medicine for the next five years.
He said the development reflects the government’s ongoing efforts to revitalise the hospital, which had previously lost several of its accreditations before the current administration took office.
Kanu further disclosed that a collaborative free medical outreach organised by the Abia State Government and the Jimmy Carter Foundation will hold from April 11 to April 17, 2026.
The outreach will offer free medical consultations, surgeries, eye care services and professional training for health workers. It will take place at Aba General Hospital and Abia State Specialist Hospital.
In addition, the Ministry of Health has begun free hydrocele surgeries for identified patients across selected health facilities in the state.
The commissioner also confirmed that the state government has commenced the implementation of the CONHESS salary structure for local government health workers.
He revealed that construction work has started on the Ukwa East General Hospital, with the contractor given nine months to complete the project.
On public health concerns, Kanu noted that no outbreak of Lassa Fever has been recorded in Abia State, adding that health authorities are maintaining strict surveillance at entry points to prevent possible infections.
The briefing was attended by the Commissioner for Health, Enoch Ogbonnaya Uche, among other officials.
