NEWS
Abia State Govt Intensifies Umuahia Urban Renewal as Emede-Ibeku Flood Control Project Nears Completion
The Abia State Government has intensified its urban renewal drive in Umuahia, with major interventions underway to tackle flooding and improve public safety across the state capital.
The Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, disclosed this on Monday, September 7, 2026, while briefing journalists at Government House, Umuahia, on the outcome of the week’s State Executive Council meeting presided over by Governor Alex Otti, OFR.
According to the Commissioner, the administration has recorded significant progress on the Emede-Ibeku Flood Control Programme, one of the key projects designed to address recurring flooding and improve drainage infrastructure within Umuahia.
Hon. Kanu disclosed that the project site had been completely cleared, paving the way for accelerated construction activities.
He explained that piling works on the project had reached about 90 per cent completion, while excavation for the drainage system and construction of drainage channels had both attained approximately 80 per cent completion.
With the project now at an advanced stage, the Commissioner said the state government expects the construction works to be completed within the next few weeks.
The development is expected to provide a major boost to the government’s efforts to address flooding in vulnerable areas of Umuahia, while also improving the city’s drainage network and overall urban environment.
Beyond flood control, the government is also strengthening safety measures as part of its broader urban renewal programme.
Prince Kanu revealed that the Umuahia Capital Development Authority (UCDA) had sealed properties certified to have structural defects, following assessments by relevant authorities.
He explained that owners of the affected properties had been duly notified of the defects and the actions taken by the government.
The Commissioner said the intervention was necessary to prevent avoidable fatalities and protect residents from the dangers posed by structurally compromised buildings.
The latest measures underscore the Otti administration’s broader push to combine infrastructure development with stricter urban planning and public safety standards as it continues its trans
formation of Umuahia.