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From Okey Sampson, Umuahia
Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti has signed the Abia State Centre for the Rehabilitation of Survivors of Rape, Defilement, Domestic Violence and any form of Human Trafficking bill into Law.
Assenting to the bill in his office, Governor Otti thanked the House of Assembly for the speedy passage and the efforts of his Wife, Mrs Priscilla Chidinma Otti and other officials of government towards realising the bill.
“I want to thank the House of Assembly for giving this bill an expedited hearing and for passing it in record time. I would like to also salute Her Excellency for championing this bill.
“And, I want to thank the honourable commissioners in charge of Women Affairs, and the one in charge of Poverty Alleviation and Social Protection, and members of the team for putting together this bill,” Gov. Otti stated.
Otti was of the believe that the State would get to a point where it would start closing rehabilitation centres, stressing that the real issue was about reorientation of the people.
“I want to reiterate what I said on the 18th of February, 2026, when we commissioned the centre in Aba, – Sexual Assault Referral Centre,
“As I said on that day, that while we were going to set up a few more centres, it is my conviction, and I believe that we’ll get there, where we start closing them, because there is no need for that. And the real issue is about reorientation”.
Otti observed that rape, child abuse, molestation, and related incidents were not part of the culture of an Igbo man.
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“I had underscored at that point that this is not part of our culture; rape, child abuse, molestation, and all those kinds of things, child trafficking, human trafficking.
“Growing up here, it was strange, and these were offences that were outlawed and anyone that commits it was ostracised from the society and confined to the evil forests,” Gov. Otti stated.
Presenting the bill for assent, the Speaker, Abia House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Emmanuel Emeruwa said the bill deals with the rehabilitation of victims of rape and other gender based violence.
“We have gone through the necessary process that will bring it to this table for assent.
“But importantly, this bill deals with the rehabilitation of victims of rape and other violence.
“And this is why this bill received very speedy passage. So, I am very proud to be associated with the passage, so that something very positive will be started in our State.”
Wife of the Governor and initiator of the bill, Mrs. Otti said the legal framework gives hope to girls and women in the state, adding that justice would be speedier for them.
“I am very elated for this coming to fruition. This bill gives hope to our women and girls, a hope that not only would they get support, that they would also be rehabilitated and given the support they need to move forward as normal citizen.”
She commended Governor Otti for always supporting in the fight against gender-based violence and other crimes against women.
