The Abia State Government has expressed concern over the growing vandalism of public infrastructure, particularly power assets, across the state.

The Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, disclosed this on Tuesday while briefing journalists on the outcome of the State Executive Council meeting held on Monday.

Kanu said the destruction and theft of power infrastructure were affecting electricity supply while placing additional financial pressure on the government through the cost of replacing vandalised or stolen equipment.

He called on presidents-general of town unions, traditional rulers and security agencies to develop stronger strategies for addressing the problem in communities.

The commissioner also urged residents and other stakeholders to take responsibility for protecting government projects in their areas, especially those relating to electricity supply.

On the recurring flooding in parts of the state, Kanu said the Abia State Environmental Protection Agency and the Ministry of Environment had carried out extensive clearing of drainage channels.

He said the government had undertaken the drainage-clearing activities before the rainy season, while acknowledging that heavy rainfall could still result in flooding in some communities.

According to him, the state government was continuing efforts to reduce the frequency and impact of flooding across Abia.

Kanu also provided an update on water projects under the Abia Integrated Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Programme, saying the rehabilitation of five water schemes was ongoing.

He said the projects, which include pipeline recirculation, were being implemented across the three sanitary zones of the state and were at different stages of completion.

Also addressing the issue of flooding, the Commissioner for Power and Public Utilities, Engr. Ikechukwu Monday, attributed part of the increasing flooding experienced across the country to the effects of climate change.

Monday said different government agencies were implementing measures within their areas of responsibility to address flooding and related challenges.

He said the Umuahia Capital Development Authority was undertaking its own interventions, while the Ministry of Works was also implementing measures. In Aba, he said the Greater Aba Development Authority had developed comprehensive plans to address the situation.

The commissioner added that the government’s approach was holistic, with relevant agencies expected to respond quickly whenever new flooding-related challenges emerged, including situations requiring unannounced interventions.

Meanwhile, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Ferdinand Ekeoma, said the State Emergency Management Agency was responsible for providing relief materials to victims of disasters.

Ekeoma said SEMA was handling the distribution of relief materials and added that the government would also review the agency’s activities to ensure that affected residents received the necessary assistance.