The Abia State Executive Council has approved the constitution of a five member Special Investigative Committee to probe allegations of harassment, extortion, bribery, and certificate forgery involving some students and lecturers of Abia State University (ABSU).
The decision was reached during this week’s Executive Council meeting presided over by Governor Alex Otti. According to the government, the move reflects the administration’s commitment to restoring academic excellence, discipline, transparency, and ethical standards within the institution.
The committee is chaired by the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Pastor Caleb Ajagba, while the Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Dodoh Okafor, will serve as Secretary. Other members include Chinedu Ekeke, Professor Idowu Eluwa, and Professor Lawrence Idemudua.
Government said the committee would work closely with the university’s Governing Council to investigate the allegations, identify individuals found culpable, examine claims of bribery and certificate forgery against a lecturer, and assess the implementation of the White Paper on the 2024 Full Investigation Panel report on the university. The panel is also expected to recommend measures aimed at strengthening ABSU as a centre of academic and research excellence.
Meanwhile, the state government announced that the 2026 Annual School Census officially commenced across Abia State on Monday, May 11, 2026. The exercise, which will last for one month across the three senatorial zones, is expected to provide reliable educational data for planning, policy formulation, and access to the Hope Education Intervention Grant.
In furtherance of ongoing education reforms, the Abia State Universal Basic Education Board recently organized training and capacity building programmes for 265 headteachers and 306 Early Childhood Care Development teachers to improve school administration and learning outcomes.
The government also disclosed that the Abia State Agency for Mass Literacy, Adult and Non Formal Education has established 140 learning centres across the state to provide educational opportunities for adults and citizens who previously lacked access to formal education.
On environmental sanitation, the Abia State Environmental Protection Agency has commenced full enforcement of the use of waste bins in all commercial vehicles operating within the state. The policy is aimed at promoting proper waste disposal and sustaining the administration’s cleanliness campaign across Abia.
The agency further revealed plans to expand the distribution of public waste bins to underserved communities while encouraging residents to support ongoing environmental reforms.
In the area of infrastructure, the government announced that three out of twenty nine road projects currently under contract have been completed and are awaiting commissioning. The completed projects include the 2.213 kilometre Umuogo Nsukwe Ring Road, the 5.95 kilometre dualisation of Onuimo Bridge to Abia Tower Road, and the 11.5 kilometre reconstruction and expansion of the Nunya Eluama Road.
Additionally, five out of fifty one Direct Labour road projects have also been completed. These include maintenance works on failed sections of the Osisioma Flyover, rehabilitation works along the Port Harcourt Enugu Expressway leading to the Ugwunagbo Local Government Secretariat, asphalt overlay on Adaelu Road in Aba, the construction of Oberete Umuopara Road in Obingwa Local Government Area, and the Geometric Power to Guineas Junction Road in Aba.
The Executive Council also expressed satisfaction over Governor Alex Otti’s recent courtesy visit to the new World Bank Country Director to Nigeria, Matthew Verghis, in Abuja. The meeting focused on strengthening partnerships between the Abia State Government and the World Bank in critical sectors of the economy.
Speaking during the briefing, the Commissioner for Poverty Alleviation and Social Protection, Mrs Ngozi Felix, commended the Governor’s engagement with the World Bank and noted that discussions with the global financial institution would continue to ensure Abia benefits from various developmental programmes and interventions.
She stated that the administration remains committed to strategic partnerships capable of promoting sustainable growth, improving social welfare, and expanding economic opportunities across sectors such as energy, education, agriculture, and ICT.
The government also announced that Abia State will on Friday, May 15, 2026, host the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe, as part of activities marking his 85th birthday anniversary.
According to the state government, the event reflects Governor Alex Otti’s commitment to celebrating exemplary leadership, integrity, and service while inspiring younger generations to embrace responsible leadership and ethical values.
