Governor Alex Otti of Abia State says his administration has cut the state's debt burden by over 70 per cent while completing 414 road projects spanning more than 800 kilometres in three years.
Otti made the declaration on Thursday at the Township Stadium in Umuahia during the grand finale of events marking his third anniversary in office. He said the government had maintained one of Nigeria's most aggressive infrastructure expansion programmes while practising strict fiscal discipline and people-focused governance.
"Part of the reasons we have made remarkable progress in the last 36 months is our firm commitment to fiscal responsibility," Otti said. "Our capital expenditure profile is among the highest in Nigeria and yet we have liquidated over 70 per cent of inherited public debts. We cannot afford frivolities when there is so much work to be done."
The governor listed completed projects as the reconstructed Port Harcourt Road and Ohanku Road in Aba, the six-lane Aguiyi Ironsi Boulevard in Umuahia, the Omenuko Bridge and the Umuahia-Uzuakoli-Abiriba-Ohafia Road. An additional 82 roads covering more than 200 kilometres are nearing completion.
Otti said the health sector received almost 1,000 newly recruited workers deployed across state institutions, with the government consistently allocating 15 per cent of the budget to healthcare. Hundreds of health centres and general hospitals have been retrofitted and reopened.
In education, the state maintains a minimum 20 per cent budgetary allocation and recruited 5,394 teachers last year. Otti announced plans to employ another 4,000 teachers following increased school enrolment across the state.
The governor disclosed investments in technology and youth empowerment, noting that Abia launched training programmes in software engineering, artificial intelligence and cyber security. Over 300 million naira has been earmarked for innovation-driven enterprises.
Otti reaffirmed his administration's commitment to workers' welfare, assuring that salaries and pensions would continue to be paid on time. "Abia workers and retirees will no longer be subjected to the era of protests over unpaid entitlements," he said.
The governor also claimed significant progress in tackling insecurity through collaboration with security agencies and local communities.
Member of the House of Representatives for Isialangwa North/South, Ginger Onwusibe, said Otti had exceeded campaign expectations through visible development projects. He noted that National Assembly members from the state were solidly behind Otti's second term ambition in 2027.
Elder statesman Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa and Senior Advocate of Nigeria Chris Uche commended the governor's leadership, saying his administration had restored public confidence in governance.
Commissioner for Poverty Alleviation and Social Protection Ngozi Felix, speaking on behalf of Abia women, praised Otti for promoting inclusiveness and merit. She said women currently occupy more than 85 per cent of permanent secretary positions in the state.
