The Abia State Government has approved the elevation of several historical and natural sites across the state to heritage and natural monuments as part of a renewed drive to preserve its cultural assets and expand its tourism economy.
The government has also commenced preparations for the second batch of payments to retired workers owed gratuities by previous administrations, with the new batch covering outstanding obligations from 2011 to 2025.
Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, disclosed this on Monday, September 14, 2026, while briefing journalists on the outcome of the State Executive Council meeting presided over by Governor Alex Otti at Government House, Umuahia.
Kanu said the National War Museum, Ojukwu Bunker and Government College, all in Umuahia, had been approved as state heritage monuments.
He added that Ibom Waterfall in Arochukwu and Ulochukwu Cave in Alayi, Bende Local Government Area, had also been approved as natural monuments.
According to him, the designations were intended to strengthen the state's preservation efforts while improving the prospects of the sites gaining international recognition.
“These sites have been elevated to heritage sites that enhance the state's tourism potential. With this approval, they are primed to attract recognition as UNESCO Heritage Sites,” Kanu said.
The commissioner also announced the designation of Aba as a Creative and Innovative City, citing the commercial, industrial and creative importance the city has acquired over the years.
He disclosed that rehabilitation and retrofitting works at the Ojukwu Bunker and National War Museum were about 80 per cent complete and would be concluded before the end of the year.
Kanu said the projects were designed not only to preserve the historical significance of the sites but also to improve the experience of visitors and enhance their tourism and economic value.
He further disclosed that the Ministry of Arts, Culture and Creative Economy had secured approval to develop the Ibom Waterfall Tourism Corridor in Arochukwu.
Work, he said, had already commenced, including the grading of access roads to the waterfall, with completion expected before the end of 2026.
The commissioner said the ministry had equally commenced the erection of monuments at strategic locations across the state to preserve Abia's heritage and honour personalities and groups that played significant roles in its history.
One of the monuments, he said, would be dedicated to the women who participated in the 1929 Aba Women's Riot, in recognition of their courage, resilience, resistance and leadership.
Government rejects tax hike allegations
Kanu also rejected allegations that the state government had introduced excessive taxes, describing the claims as misinformation being promoted by the opposition.
He maintained that the tax rates currently being referenced were not introduced by the Otti administration but were contained in tax legislation dating back to 2020.
“For starters, these rates are not new. Most of the rates are 2020 tax rates that were introduced by the previous government. Let me reiterate that the Board of Internal Revenue cannot just raise tax rates without the backing of enabling laws. And no such increases have been introduced by the Abia State Government,” he said.
He explained that demand notices issued by the Board of Internal Revenue were lawful and urged taxpayers to comply with relevant tax provisions, while assuring that legitimate complaints would be addressed by officials of the board.
Kanu specifically dismissed reports that akara sellers were being asked to pay N50,000 in taxes.
“This is pure fallacy. Nothing can be further from the truth. Akara sellers don't pay tax or levies. They pay daily tolls. And none can pay as high as 50,000 Naira.”
Chairman of the Abia State Board of Internal Revenue, Mr Uche Elekwachi, corroborated the commissioner's position, saying the alleged N50,000 tax was not contained in the state's tax laws.
“Some rumours are going around that akara sellers are told to be paying 50,000 Naira tax. It is not true. There are no rates in there (in the tax laws) and no revenue window there that was started by this government.
“This whole thing has always been in existence. The Abia Internally Generated Revenue Service Law was enacted in 2020 long before this government came onboard, so we need to make that clarification,” Elekwachi said.
Second batch of gratuity payments
On gratuity arrears, Kanu said the state government had paid retirees whose outstanding benefits covered the period from 2001 to 2010 and was now preparing the second batch covering 2011 to 2025.
He rejected suggestions that the administration embarked on the payments only after pressure from opposition politicians.
“The payments will be made in batches. The funds involved are huge for one balloon payment. And as Governor Alex Otti has proven these past three years-plus, he is one Governor that promises less and delivers more.
“The conclusion of payment of outstanding gratuities may happen earlier than we ever imagined. Let us therefore wait and see how the next batch of payments will unfold,” he said.
The commissioner also disputed claims that the government's gratuity programme would run only until 2031.
He explained that the Gratuity Committee's recommendation for gratuity provisions to be included in the state's 2026–2031 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework and subsequent annual budgets was aimed at ensuring that gratuity obligations were regularly budgeted for and that new arrears did not accumulate.
“That does not translate to payments being terminated in 2031. As the internal processes and verification of beneficiaries of these payments continue, due payments would still be made in batches.
“That is the information we made available to the public before the commencement of the first batch of payments. And this administration will not deviate from that,” Kanu maintained.
British envoy to visit Abia
Meanwhile, the state is set to host the British Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr Johnny Baxter, on a two-day official visit from September 16 to 17.
Kanu said Baxter's engagements would centre on power, trade and commerce, transportation, education, digital transformation and governance.
He is also expected to participate in the flag-off of the SPRIRET Initiative, a state-level Policy, Regulatory and Institutional Reform Enabling Digital Transformation programme.
The envoy will pay a courtesy visit to Governor Otti and tour the Geometric Power Plant, Ariaria International Market in Aba, Nnenna Oti Bus Terminal in Umuahia, as well as the Solar Project and Ubakala Smart School Project.
Kanu said the SPRIRET Initiative was funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and was designed to promote digital inclusion at no cost to the state.
He said it would build on the Digital Access Programme, through which more than 1,500 Abia civil servants were trained in 2024.
Baxter is also expected to meet stakeholders from the security, political, civil society and media sectors during the visit.
Kanu noted that the visit would be the second by a senior British government official to the state since August 2024, when the then British High Commissioner, Mr Richard Montgomery, visited Governor Otti.
Three new direct-labour roads
On road projects, the commissioner disclosed that the Ministry of Works currently has 44 direct-labour road projects across the state.
Although none of the 44 projects was completed during the period under review, three new projects were added to the ministry's direct-labour maintenance programme.
They are the 6.2-kilometre Amiyi-Obiloha Road in Isuikwuato Local Government Area; Okpurorie-Afaraukwu Road in Umuahia North Local Government Area; and the 1.2-kilometre Hon. P.C. Mba Road in Living Springs Estate, New Government Layout, Umuahia.
Kanu further disclosed that the 1.5-kilometre Jaja Wachuku Road in Isiala Ngwa North Local Government Area was among 26 ongoing contract road projects and had been completed.
He said the other contract roads were at various stages of completion, adding that additional projects would be completed once weather conditions improved.
The Commissioner for Arts, Culture and Creative Economy, Mr Mathew Ekwuribe, and Special Adviser to the Governor on Internally Generated Revenue, Dr Emmanuel Okpechi, attended the briefing.
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