Abia State has been selected as one of six states to benefit from the $700 million Sustainable Urban and Rural Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (SURWASH) Programme funded by the World Bank.
The development was disclosed on Monday by the Commissioner for Information, Okey Kanu, while briefing journalists after the State Executive Council (EXCO) meeting presided over by Governor Alex Otti.
SURWASH is a national programme designed to expand access to potable water, sanitation, and hygiene services across urban and rural communities in Nigeria.
According to information on the SURWASH website, seven states, Delta, Ekiti, Gombe, Imo, Kaduna, Katsina, and Plateau, are among those that have benefited from the initiative, which is funded through a $700 million credit facility from the International Development Association.
What they are saying
Kanu attributed Abia’s inclusion in the programme to the sweeping reforms and transformation efforts underway in the state, noting that these have continued to attract global attention and support.
- “Abia State is getting all these recognitions and sponsorships around the globe because of what is going on in the state today. The massive transformation that has gone on in the state in various aspects of governance,” he said.
He further noted that the state has increasingly become a focal point for multilateral development partners due to its reform-driven agenda.
- “So at every point, all these multilateral finance agencies look our way as a state,” he added.
Kanu also disclosed that Governor Otti, who marks three years in office this month, will commemorate the anniversary without elaborate celebrations, focusing instead on developmental milestones.
- “As has become traditional with this government, the third year anniversary will be celebrated not with pomp and pageantry, but rather with flag-offs and commissioning events,” he stated.
More insights
Beyond the SURWASH programme, the state is advancing several development projects across critical sectors.
The previously suspended USAID small-town WASH initiative has resumed under a new funding arrangement with Mercy Corps, with work set to continue on water schemes in Ubakala and Ariaria.
In the power sector, the Abia State Electricity Regulatory Agency has issued interim licences to three firms—New Era, Aba Power, and Geometric Power—as part of efforts to stabilise electricity supply.
- The government says its ongoing half-year power restoration project is about 85 per cent complete, with improved supply expected in areas such as Ohafia before the end of the second quarter.
- The state has also launched a 1.8-megawatt microgrid solar project to power central bus terminals in Umuahia and Aba, as part of its broader energy transition strategy.
Additionally, new appointments have been approved in the health and environmental sectors, including a Chief Medical Director for Abia State University Teaching Hospital and a project coordinator for the Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP).
What you should know
The SURWASH initiative dates back to 2021, when the World Bank approved a $700 million credit facility to support Nigeria’s efforts to expand access to clean water and improved sanitation services.
- The programme is expected to provide about six million people with basic drinking water and 1.4 million people with improved sanitation.
- However, progress has been slowed by structural and legislative challenges. As of March 2024, the programme faced delays due to the stalled passage of a critical water bill required to unlock further funding.
This bottleneck limited disbursement to about $80.35 million—roughly 12 per cent of the total facility—leaving over $577 million pending the fulfilment of key conditions tied to the project.
