Insecticide-treated Mosquito nets arrive Abia, as State government set to distribute them to citizens
Abia State Government has announced it will commence the statewide distribution of insecticide treated mosquito nets within the first and second week of October, 2026, as part of measures to strengthen malaria prevention and control in the state.
The Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, disclosed this on Monday, September 21, 2026, while briefing newsmen at Government House, Umuahia, on the outcome of the State Executive Council meeting presided over by Governor Alex Otti.
Prince Kanu said the mosquito nets had started arriving in the state, adding that Governor Otti would officially launch the distribution once a definite date had been confirmed.
He explained that consultations were ongoing with relevant stakeholders across the 17 Local Government Areas to ensure a seamless and effective distribution of the treated nets.
The Commissioner also announced that the State Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the National Malaria Elimination Programme, would commence larvae source management activities before the end of September, with focus on Isuikwuato and Aba South Local Government Areas.
According to him, the intervention is based on available data indicating that the two Local Government Areas have significant mosquito larvae breeding activities, hence the need to eliminate the larvae at source.
Prince Kanu further disclosed that the State Ministry of Health recently hosted the Optometrists and Opticians Regulatory Council of Nigeria on an accreditation visit, as well as the National Board for Technical Education on accreditation for the training programmes in optometry and nursing sciences, including nursing training at the FMC and Abiriba campuses of the College of Nursing Sciences in the state.
The Commissioner said that preparations have commenced for the fourth cohort of the Abia TechRise program following the successful implementation of the first three cohorts.
He disclosed that the first three cohorts have produced a total of 2,210 graduates, out of which 88 outstanding graduates have secured automatic employment into the Abia State Civil Service. He said that the fourth cohort, shows the administration’s commitment to equipping young people with relevant digital skills and opportunities.
On agriculture, the Commissioner said the Local Government Agricultural Innovation Programme was progressing well across the 17 Local Government Areas, noting that participating local governments had recently received about 2,040 birds as part of the ongoing Poultry Innovation Programme.
He added that other agricultural value chains under the programme were being monitored for productivity and sustainability, while several local governments had commenced harvesting caballero peppers from their farms.
Prince Kanu also disclosed that the Nchedo Sexual Assault Referral Centre has continued to record progress in its response to gender-based violence and sexual and gender-based violence.
He said the centre recorded seven GBV and SGBV cases during the period under review, comprising six cases of sexual violence and one case of domestic violence. The cases according to him involved five minors aged between 10 and 14 years and two adult women aged between 25 and 40 years.
He said that the reported cases involved alleged defilement, rape and domestic violence against a pregnant woman.
He added that the centre provided medical and other support services to survivors, including medical intervention and surgery for a 10-year-old survivor who sustained severe vaginal bleeding.
The Commissioner said the cases had been documented for appropriate protection, investigation, referral and legal processes, assuring that the state government remained committed to ensuring that perpetrators of gender-based violence were brought to justice.
“This administration is committed to ensuring that perpetrators of gender-based violence are brought to justice, no matter what it takes,” Prince Kanu said.
