The Abia Government has vowed to prosecute individuals or groups found guilty of violating the Cyber Security Act and Data Protection Act, according to the Commissioner for Information, Mr Okey Kanu, who spoke on Monday -yesterday, February 24 – at a press briefing on the outcome of the State Executive Council meeting at the Government House, Umuahia.
Kanu said the government would not tolerate the spread of falsehood intended to mislead the public, under the guise of opposition.
Kanu who affirmed the Otti Administration’s commitment to transparency, encouraging citizens to verify information before dissemination, said deliberate acts of misinformation would be met with the full force of the law.
“This is to inform those who peddle falsehood all in the name of opposition that time has come for them to desist from such unwholesome acts or be ready to face the full wrath of the law,” Kanu warned.
“Such people need to be reminded of the Cyber Laws in our legal system, Cyber Security Act, the Data Protection Acts all part of our legal system.
“While this government has nothing to hide, we believe that the purveyors of falsehood are infringing on the rights of others.
“The people that engage in acts of disinformation should understand that it has the capacity to cause mischief and chaos among the public.
“It is important for such people to note that this state government reserves the right to prosecute them if they run foul of the law.”
On Petroleum and Solid Minerals, Kanu said the government has taken a significant step to enhance the state’s economic development, particularly in the oil and solid minerals sector, disclosing that in line with the existing agreement between the government and the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN), a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) known as ABTAN Energy Limited has been initiated.
By incorporating the SPV, the government and PETAN have succeeded in creating a structured platform to maximise the state’s oil potential, especially with the state’s 100 capped oil wells, the Information Commissioner enthused, adding that the government has commenced statewide field study on solid minerals to identify the commercial viability and quantity of solid mineral deposits in the state.
According to Kanu, this would drive targeted industrial development, attract investors, and create job opportunities.
On health, he said that under the government’s Project Ekwueme, aimed at rehabilitation of Primary Healthcare Centers (PHCs), about 55 percent completion has been achieved, disclosing that the World Bank Impact PHC recognition initiative has commenced across 67 PHCs in the state.
These facilities are, however, separate from the Project Ekwueme, which is aimed at establishing 200 PHCs, ensuring that each of Abia’s 184 wards would have a PHC, Kanu further explained, informing that the government has approved the upgrade of Umunneato General Hospital to a specialist hospital.
With this upgrade, the state would have a specialist hospital in each of its three senatorial districts, the Commissioner announced.
“They are the Abia State University Teaching Hospital (ABSUTH) in Abia South, Abia Specialist Hospital, Umuahia, with an annex at Amachara in Abia Central and Abia Specialist Hospital, Umunneato in Abia North,” Kanu enumerated.
“This underscores the high premium that this administration places on the health sector.
“The goal is to bring healthcare closer to the people and ensure that no one is left behind.”
