21st October 2025, NewsOrient, Opinion, Column, Governance And Development, Law And Society, News
By Emeka Nwosu, PhD.

Abia State, under the watch of Governor Alex Otti, has continued to record impressive developments in many areas of human endeavor. The people of the State are thrilled that so much has been achieved just within the two years of the stewardship of Otti.

Remarkable progress has been made in the areas of road constructions and reconstructions, urban renewal, waste disposal, mass recruitments, especially in the education sector, schools` rehabilitation, retrofitting of healthcare centres, and regular payment of salaries and pensions, amongst others.

The cheering news is that the governor is even-handed and equitable in the distribution of development projects. There is no part of Abia that is left out in the scheme of things. All the three senatorial zones of the State are receiving the requisite attention of the government in resource allocation and project execution. And the governor is intentional about it. That is why he reinforced Umuahia Capital Development Authority (UCDA) and established Greater Aba Development Authority (GADA) and Greater Ohafia Development Authority (GODA) as special purpose vehicles to drive development in the three geographical areas of the State.

This well-thought-out initiative has led to an unprecedented infrastructural and economic transformation of both the urban and rural areas of the State. The government has, through these agencies, delivered signature projects in the various zones of the State. For example, the famous Omenuko Bridge located in Ozu Abam in Abia North has been fixed by the Otti administration. The bridge, a colonial relic, before the intervention of Governor Otti, was a death trap that claimed so many lives. For several years, it remained in that derelict state and defied the previous PDP administrations that governed Abia for 24 years. They did nothing to salvage the terrible situation.

The people of Abam, Arochukwu, Ohafia and others on that corridor bore the brunt with consequent loss of precious lives and properties all these years before the emergence of Otti on the political saddle of Abia State.

Within two years, Otti has built a brand new bridge to replace the existing rickety one.

In Abia Central, Otti expanded the main approach road into Umuahia, the State Capital, into six lanes, transforming it into a beautiful boulevard to behold. The road which is now named after Nigeria`s first military Head of State, Maj. Gen. Aguiyi Ironsi, an indigene of Umuahia, has tremendously enhanced the aesthetic look of the capital city. Only recently, the dilapidated and abandoned Okpara Auditorium in Umuahia was similarly transformed into a world-class Convention Centre, fitted with modern conference facilities. It was one of the key projects of the Otti administration that was commissioned by President Bola Tinubu through the Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi, who represented him on the occasion.

In Aba, the commercial hub of the State, located in Abia South Senatorial zone,the governor has done so much in retrieving the city from the abyss of yesteryears and repositioning it for greatness. The signature project is the amazing transformation of Port Harcourt Road into a beautiful highway of six lanes fitted with solar-powered streetlights and water fountains. This is considered an incredible feat because the road was abandoned for over 30 years and became impassable to both human and vehicular traffic.

The road was overgrown with bushes and ravaged by erosions and floods. Landlords and residents abandoned the area and relocated elsewhere. All businesses and firms operating within that corridor closed shops. That was the level of the decay before Otti intervened. He engaged construction giants, Julius Berger, which did a wonderful job. Today, the road has become more like a tourist attraction in Aba. The commissioning of the road a few weeks ago was the highpoint of President Tinubu`s visit to Abia.

Otti`s sterling performance has not gone unnoticed. In a remarkable show of appreciation, the Abia State House of Assembly at its plenary session on Wednesday, 8th October, 2025, passed a vote of implicit confidence on Governor Otti for the excellent job he has done to take Abia to greater heights.

“The House noted with satisfaction, the remarkable progress made in various sectors under your administration, particularly in the areas of infrastructural development, education, security, health, amongst others and your commitment to the growth and development of our dear state which is evident in the numerous projects executed in all nooks and crannies of Abia State, with special reference to the newly reconstructed six lanes Port Harcourt Road, Aba and the remodeled Dr. Michael Okpara Auditorium, Umuahia, commissioned by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, last week.

“The House commends your visionary leadership and dedication to a reformed Abia, reaffirms its support for your administration and assures you of our continued collaboration in ensuring the success of your policies and programmes”.

This unanimous resolution is quite significant. It’s clearly an affirmation of total faith by the people of Abia State in the outstanding performance of Governor Otti and his team. The people of Abia are impressed with the visionary leadership Otti has demonstrated so far, and are standing ready to return him in 2027.

May Abia continue to prevail!

Dr. Nwosu, a Public Affairs Analyst, writes from Umuahia.
Email: cdnwosu2@gmail.com

~ Published By NewsOrient Network

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