The Abia State Government has formally set in motion plans to demolish decayed buildings at the Abia State College of Health Sciences and Management Technology, Aba, signaling the start of a substantial reconstruction project aimed at modernising the institution’s infrastructure and improving its academic environment.
In a statement issued on Monday by Njoku Ukoha, Chief Press Secretary to Governor Alex Otti, government officials said demolition works on the century-old college would begin “within the week” as part of the administration’s broader strategy to revitalise all state-owned tertiary institutions.
Ukoha noted that many of the campus structures, some more than 70 years old, have long deteriorated due to neglect by previous administrations, leaving them in a “dilapidated state” that undermines students’ learning experience.
“A few days ago, I published the current dilapidated state of the Abia State College of Health Sciences and Management Technology, Aba,” Ukoha said in the statement, recounting the dire condition of the facilities.
He added that the demolition and rebuilding efforts align with Governor Otti’s commitment to rebuild and upgrade state-owned educational institutions, emphasising that the project is designed to “create a better learning environment for the students.”
“As part of Governor Otti’s commitment to recover and remodel all state-owned tertiary institutions, demolition will start on site within the week, and most of the college’s over 70 years old dilapidated structures left in ruins and despair by previous administrations will be reconstructed to create a better learning environment for the students,” the statement read.
To give the public an early glimpse of the institution’s future look, the government released visual prototypes of the planned structures, showcasing a modernised campus expected to enhance both academic and student life.
Beyond the College of Health Sciences, the statement highlighted other ongoing infrastructure efforts in Abia’s tertiary education sector under the Otti administration. These include the comprehensive transformation of the Abia State College of Education (Technical), Arochukwu, and extensive rehabilitation of Abia State University, Uturu, now described as “under massive rehabilitation, reconstruction and construction.”
Similarly, the Abia State Polytechnic, Aba has seen improvements at its temporary site and major construction at its permanent location in preparation for future relocation. The Abia State University Teaching Hospital, Aba, is also “under massive construction and upgrading,” according to the government.
Officials said the redevelopment of the College of Health Sciences forms part of a wider agenda to reverse decades of neglect in the education sector and reposition public institutions to deliver higher standards of teaching, research, and service.
