Governor Alex Otti of Abia State announced that his administration has paid N90 billion out of the N191.3 billion debt inherited from previous administrations over the past 15 months. He shared these details during a media session on Thursday night in Umuahia.
Otti also reported that Abia had attracted $159 million in foreign direct investment between June 2023 and June 2024 under his leadership. He emphasized that his administration has not borrowed any money from external institutions thus far.
He explained that the resources of the state have been wisely allocated towards infrastructure development, as well as the payment of salaries, pensions, and other government financial obligations. Otti said: “I inherited N191.3 billion from my predecessor in May 2023. My predecessor inherited about N35 billion from his predecessor in 2015.. However, my administration has now paid over N90 billion of that inherited debt.”
Despite the debt, Otti assured that salaries and pensions are paid monthly without taking any loans. “The achievements we see today are the result of prudent management of scarce resources,” he added.
Regarding the increase in foreign direct investment, Otti noted that Abia has risen from the 27th position to the 3rd position among states with the highest foreign direct investment. He credited the improvement to the efforts made by his administration to create the necessary infrastructure and investment-friendly environment in the state.
“Investors are attracted not by words but by action. We have seen a flow of investors coming to establish their businesses in Abia without any extensive campaign. For instance, Apostle Chibuzor from OPM recently brought a team of investors from Italy, Turkey, and the United States,” Otti remarked.
He continued, “We are also working with Akaikenga Think Tank to set up a tech hub in Abia, aiming to encourage our people to invest back home.”
In terms of agriculture, Otti expressed his administration’s commitment to achieving food security. He announced the approval of funds for 300 Abians who were sponsored by the state government to study modern farming techniques in Nasarawa State. Furthermore, Otti highlighted the establishment of the Greater Ohafia Development Commission (GADO) to ensure all senatorial districts are included in the government’s development agenda. This complements the existing Greater Aba Development Authority (GADA) and the Umuahia Capital Development Agency (UCDA).
On road infrastructure, the governor stated that his administration had awarded contracts for the rehabilitation of various new roads to enhance accessibility throughout the state. He mentioned the commencement of the 5-kilometer expansion of the Onuimo Bridge-Abia Tower Umuahia road and other projects, including the 11.5 km Ntigha Road, the 11.27 km Mbala-Ngodo Isuochi Road, and the 11.5 km Obehie-Owaza Road in Ukwa.
Otti also confirmed that he received assurances from Julius Berger, the contractor responsible for reconstructing the strategic Port Harcourt Road in Aba, that the project would be completed by February 2025. Additionally, work is progressing on several other road projects, including the Umuahia-Uzuakoli-Ohafia Road, the Ohafia-Atochukwu Road, and the Ndiokorie Abam-Atochukwu Road, among others.
He concluded by stating that the ‘zero-pothole policy’ of his administration is actively being implemented.
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