Abia, World Bank Deepen Development Partnership as ASEPA Intensifies Enforcement

The Abia State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to sustainable development and environmental protection.

This is following a high-level discussions with the World Bank and renewed enforcement measures by the Abia State Environmental Protection Agency (ASEPA).

The Commissioner for information Prince Okey Kanu stated this on Monday, at Government House Umuahia, while briefing newsmen s on the outcome of this week’s State Executive Council meeting

Kanu informed that Governor Alex Otti recently visited the World Bank Country Director for Nigeria, Mr. Mathew Verghis in Abuja to strengthen collaboration between the state and the international development institution.

According to him, the meeting focused on expanding partnerships in critical sectors including energy, ICT, agriculture, education, and small and medium enterprises under the World Bank’s new Country Partnership Framework.

“The major purpose of the visit was to strengthen the existing relationship between the Abia State Government and the World Bank and to address areas of possible collaboration and partnership between the state and the World Bank,” Kanu stated.

He explained that discussions also reviewed ongoing development programmes such as the Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAMP), alongside other intervention initiatives already benefiting the state.

Providing further insight into the engagement, the Commissioner for Poverty Elevation and Social Protection, Mrs Blessing Ngozi Felix said the new partnership framework aligns with the development vision of the current administration.

“Conversations will continue so that we can further ensure that we, as a state, are able to benefit from new programmes that align with the vision of this present administration,” she said.

Ngozi Felix noted that the World Bank framework covers strategic areas including energy, digital infrastructure, agriculture, education, and access to credit for small and medium-scale businesses.

According to her, the agricultural component is designed to strengthen support for smallholder farmers and improve sustainability through investments in logistics and market infrastructure.

“If we need to guarantee sustainability, we must ensure that we are able to look at the business side of agriculture for our smallholder farmers,” she added.

Ngozi Felix further explained that the state government’s digitalisation agenda aligns with the World Bank’s ICT development priorities, while investments in early childhood education also complement the administration’s free basic education policy.

Meanwhile, General manager Abia State Environmental Protection Agency (ASEPA), Ogbonnia Okereke said it has intensified environmental monitoring and enforcement across the state as part of efforts to maintain sanitation standards and promote a cleaner environment.

Okereke disclosed that businesses and industries found violating environmental regulations have continued to face sanctions, including the sealing of premises until compliance is achieved.

He also announced the full enforcement of mandatory waste bins in all commercial vehicles operating within the state.

According to Okereke, the initiative is aimed at promoting proper waste disposal and improving environmental cleanliness in urban centres.

He stressed that the enforcement drive was not intended as a revenue-generating exercise but rather to encourage compliance with environmental standards.

“We are not looking at it from the point of view of revenue. Rather, we are looking at compliance,” he said.

Okereke revealed that public waste bins earlier installed in parts of the state had been vandalised by scavengers, adding that efforts were ongoing to restore them.

“We encourage every Abian to realise that this society belongs to all of us. When you see people vandalising public property or disposing waste improperly, please speak out against it,” the official urged.

The government maintained that the combined efforts in development planning, infrastructure collaboration, and environmental sanitation are aimed at improving the quality of life for residents and sustaining the state’s transformation agenda.