Governor Alex Otti of Abia State has assented to the Startup Bill passed by the House of Assembly, officially enacting it as the Abia State Startup Law 2025.
The Commissioner for Information, Mr. Okey Kanu, disclosed this on Monday while briefing journalists on the outcome of the State Executive Council meeting in Umuahia.
Kanu said the law was designed to domesticate and implement the Nigerian Startup Act 2022 in Abia State, providing a legal framework to foster innovation, support technology-enabled startups, nurture digital talent and position the state as a hub for technology and innovation.
“The law applies to companies with major operations in Abia and startups duly recognized and labelled under the national Act,” he said.
The commissioner also announced plans to launch a state-owned electric bus mass transit scheme under the Abia Transport Transformation Project.
According to him, the first batch of 20 electric buses arrived in November, while another 20 units are expected early next year, with about 100 buses to be deployed in the first phase.
Kanu said the 40-seater buses are custom-built for Abia and can travel up to 400 kilometers on a single charge.
“They are equipped with modern safety and comfort features, including cameras, charging ports, disability access, emergency exits and fire extinguishers,” he said, adding that the initiative would place Abia at the forefront of clean and environmentally friendly mass transit in Nigeria.
Kanu further disclosed that the Abia 25-Year Development Plan would be unveiled on Tuesday at the International Conference Centre, Umuahia.
He said the event would attract development partners, members of the advisory council, local government chairmen, traditional rulers and other stakeholders.
On healthcare, the commissioner said the Abia Global Medical Mission commenced on Monday and would run until Dec. 20, 2025, during which free advanced medical services would be provided at designated centres across the state.
Kanu also revealed that 850 youths would graduate from the second cohort of the Abia Techrise ICT Training Programme on Saturday, bringing the total number of beneficiaries trained under the programme in 2025 to 1,399.
He added that the Ministry of Works was carrying out direct labor interventions on major roads ahead of the yuletide.
The commissioner urged residents to remain vigilant during the festive season and report suspicious activities to security agencies, noting that security operatives had been placed on full alert to safeguard lives and property across the state.
