The Abia State government says it has shut down 197 private schools in the state operating below minimum standard.
Okey Kanu, state commissioner for Information and Culture, disclosed this in Umuahia while briefing newsmen after this week’s Executive Council meeting.
He said that the closure of the schools was in line with the determination of the government to reform the education sector.
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Kanu disclosed that about 900 schools had been inspected so far in the ongoing school inspection exercise.
“The inspection of schools is ongoing and as at the last count, about 900 schools have been inspected. A few of the schools are not so lucky, they failed the test of the required standards and they were shut down,” he said.
He equally said that the government had directed staff of Abia state Universal Basic Education Board (ASUBEB) to relocate from the office, explaining that “just last week, as a proactive government ,staff of ASUBEB were evacuated from that building because the integrity of that building, the structure was suspicious.”
He added that government was doing everything possible to provide a permanent solution to the development.
The Information commissioner also said that apart from the six roads already reconstructed and commissioned in Aba by Governor Alex Otti, additional three roads would soon be ready for commissioning while the Ministry of Works has been directed to effect repairs on Fimbars Road and the deplorable axis along Ahiaeke-Lodu Ndume-Umuafai Road all in Umuahia.
On the health sector, the Commissioner for Health, Dr Ngozi Okoronkwo disclosed that over eight thousand Abians have so far accessed the free medicarel under the ongoing free medical services offered by the State government.
She said government in a bid to enhance the capacity of cottage hospital in Abayi, Aba is retrofitting the facility and assured that it would soon be reopened for public use as work was seriously ongoing
Responding to questions on the recent appointment of Transition Committee Chairmen in the State, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Uzor Nwachukwu said that the names contained therein are trusted individuals, who are capable of managing the various LGAs in the State.
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“What Dr. Alex Otti wants to do with the Local Government administration is unprecedented in the history of this state. And for the first time, our people would witness massive development in every Local Government,” he said.
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