The Abia State Government has established a material testing laboratory in Umuahia to improve the quality of engineering and building projects. Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, said during the weekly press briefing that the facility is fully operational and provides services such as concrete testing, soil testing, aggregate testing, asphalt flexible pavement testing, steel reinforcement testing, non-destructive testing, and field testing. He noted that the lab will help guarantee high standards in construction across the state.
The government is also advancing the recovery of Abia Hotel Limited in Umuahia, with the process already at an advanced stage. Details of the rehabilitation will be shared with the press in due course.
Other initiatives underway include the Abia TechRise ICT Training program, scheduled to begin on September 25, 2025, to equip young people with technology-related skills.
In agriculture, the state is launching an intervention project that will create jobs and empower residents. The plan includes building four prototype markets in each of the 17 local government areas, with 40 stalls per market, equipped with solar-powered lighting and other facilities.
Additional programs include the Abia Soccerfest competition and the International Leaders’ Summit, to be hosted by the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation from September 22 to 25, 2025.
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