The governor of Abia State, Dr Alex Otti, has continued to dazzle his subjects with an incredible record of achievements that stand him out as a leader who has truly come to serve and redeem society from the throes of depression and dejection.
It is Otti’s second Christmas anniversary since he emerged as the chief executive officer of God’s Own State on May 29, 2023, and he is flaunting an immaculate performance that is both stunning and amazing.
A recent survey carried out by Business Hallmark indicated that Otti has positively touched on all the critical sectors of governance in less than two years in office. According to his SSS on Public Enlightenment, Dr Ebere Uzoukwa, Otti has been wonderful since he assumed office less than two years ago.
Highlighting some of Otti’s achievements, Uzoukwa said, “I will want to take it one after another. We are not saying Otti has solved all of Abia’s problems. But the fact remains that he is laying a solid foundation for a greater Abia while tackling most of the problems that deserve immediate attention. For instance, roads. The moment Otti came on board, he declared a state of emergency on the roads. He followed it by flagging off the reconstruction of nine roads in one day in Aba. This is a mark of an administrator who has come to work.”
Otti worked assiduously and a few months later, seven of the roads, Cemetery Road (phase 1), Emelogu Road, Shallom Road, MCC/Old Express Road, Umuimo Road, Udeagbala Road, and Jubilee Road were comprehensively completed and commissioned.
Ever since then, several other roads have been completed, and the masses are happy with him. Some of the roads include but are not limited to Abak Road with adjourning streets, Green Avenue, Queen’s Street, University Road, Omuma Road, and the all-important Port Harcourt Road, which was abandoned for years. Investigation also reveals that Otti also renovated and expanded the Ossah Road, which serves as a gateway to Umuahia, making it a double dual-carriageway.
Since houses were demolished, Otti ensured that payment was made to the investors whose properties were destroyed in the course of the dualization project. Again, this indicates that Otti is a leader with conscience, a man with human feelings.
On health, the SSA also showcased the governor’s achievements. He noted that, within a short period, Otti revived Abia Diagnostic Centre Umuahia, and Abia Specialist Hospital Amachara, equipping them with the best of facilities comparable what is obtainable with some of the best hospitals elsewhere in the world.
In addition, the governor has reactivated three General Hospitals (one in each of the three senatorial zones). This has improved health standards in the state.
Otti who practically understands the essence and true meaning of health, is doing everything within his scope to bring healthcare delivery at the doorstep of the people. Given that, he also inaugurated a multipurpose hospital in the state.
It is the 100-bed Mother and Child Centre at Ugwunabo. It was established by the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (OSSAP-SDGs). Thus Otti lauded President Bola Tinubu for locating the multi-million project to Abia. He also commended Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals, for her efforts in achieving SDGs.
One area Otti has been very mindful of is the worker’s welfare, and his aide on public enlightenment, Uzoukwa, confirmed it. “You are aware that Otti on assumption of office pledged to be paying salaries, latest, on every 28 of the month. He has kept to this promise no matter the monetary challenges. To checkmate financial malpractices, instituted the verification of workers and pensioners. It was a big win for the state government as all those not captured in the process were deleted from the payroll machine thereby saving millions of naira for the government. That is, ghost workers and pensioners were identified and eliminated.
Before the election of Otti, Abia was a state where refuse dumps and stenches were common not minding the existence of the Abia Sate Environmental Agency. Otti employed about six private sanitary agencies that are today working with government workers in keeping Aba and Umuahia clean.
In the area of security, Otti has been quite wonderful. According to a report, Otti used Operation Crush to restore security in Abia. The report said, “With the successful launch of Operation Crush, insecurity which hitherto assumed an alarming dimension, especially around the Uturu/ Isuikwuato/ Umunneochi axis, has significantly subsided. His recent courage to demolish shanties which served as hideouts for criminals at the Regional Cattle Market Lokpanta, and other bold steps taken to sanitize the cattle market”.
Otti in an interview said he had not gone for any loan, insisting that good management of resources had been his secret.
“The money they were sharing with stakeholders is what we have saved to do this magic. We won’t be sharing money with individuals but use public funds to work for the people”, the governor said.
Following a recent challenge made by an opposition party in the state for Otti to reveal the roads he had done in the state, the SSA on enlightenment, therefore, gave a graphic detail on the roads done so far by Otti. Below are the details.
1. Repair & Maintenance Work at Aba Road, Umuahia.
2. Repair & Maintenance Work on Otuka Road, Umuahia.
3. Palliative Work at Olokoro Road, Umuahia.
4. Repair & Maintenance Work on Ikot-Ekpene Road, Umuahia (Phase 1)
5. Repair & Maintenance Work at Lagos Street, Umuahia.
6. Repair & Maintenance Work from Police check point to International Conference Center (Ogurube Layout)
7. Repair & Maintenance Work within Commissioners Quarters Internal Roads.
8. Repair & Maintenance Work at Road 2 Low-cost Housing Estate, Umuahia.
9. Repair & Maintenance Work at Umuahia – Uzuakoli Road, Umuahia (Ossah Road to Ubani 2nd Gate)
10. Palliative Work on Umuahia-Uzuakoli Road. (from Trade More/Ubani 2nd Gate to Uzuakoli)
11. Repair & Maintenance Work at Niger Road, Umuahia.
12. Rehabilitation of Isieketa Market Road (Junction).
13. Repair & Maintenance Work at Enugu Road , Umuahia.
14. Repair & Maintenance Work at Orpet — World Bank Housing Estate — Agbama Roads, Umuahia.
15. Maintenance & Repair of Bata to Salad Market Junction, Aba.
16. Maintenance, Repair and Asphalt overlay of Jubilee Road, Aba.
17. Maintenance, Repair and Asphalt overlay of Queen’s street Aba.
18. Drain desilting of Azikiwe Road (LHS), Jubilee Road, Hospital Road, St. Michaels Road, Pound Road, Park Road, Ngwa Road, Azikiwe by Mosque to School Road.
19. Emergency repair of Amuvi–Amakohia Road, Arochukwu LG
20. Maintenance, Repair, and Asphalt overlay of Part of Ehi Road, Aba.
21. Drain desilting of Osusu Road, umuocham Road to Ukwu Apu.
22. Emergency Repair of Opobo Junction — Azumini — Obehie Road.
23. Repair & Maintenance Work at World Bank Housing Estate Internal Road (Road O).
24. Repair & Maintenance Work at Uwalaka Street, Umuahia.
25. Maintenance of BCA Road (From BCA Junction to New Secretariat), Umuahia.
26. Repair & Maintenance of the Road to the New Government House.
27. Repair & Maintenance Work along Old Umuahia — Ubakala Road.
28. Repair & Maintenance Work at Ntigha Mbawsi Road (phase 1).
29. Repair & maintenance Work at Ntigha — Mbawsi — Nvosi Road (Phase 2).
30. Maintenance of Finbarrs Road, Umuahia (phase 1).
31. Maintenance & Repair of NNPC __ Nkwoegwu Road and spurs.
32. Maintenance & Repair Work at World Bank Housing Estate Internal Roads (Road C).
33. Repair & Maintenance Work at Uzuakoli Road, Umuahia (From Cooperative to Uwalaka Street).
34. Repair & Maintenance Work at Asaba Street, Umuahia.
35. Repair & Maintenance Work at Amuzukwu, Umuahia.
36. Repair & Maintenance Work at Ntigha — Ahia Orie (phase 1).
37. Maintenance and Repair of Cottage Hospital Road, Aba.
38. Maintenance of Old Umuahia —- ubakala Road.
39. Maintenance of Olokoro Road from Mboli, Aba Road to Holy Ghost College.
40. Maintenance of Ohobo Road to Uchenna Junction by Aba Road, Umuahia.
41. Maintenance & Repair of Ogbor-hill Bridge to Opobo Road junction, Aba.
42. Clearing of Sand Refuse Traps and Repair of Bridge Abutment Washout at Okpu Umuobo Water-Side, Aba.
43. Maintenance of Library Avenue (Bank Road), Umuahia.
44. Maintenance of Amuvi -Nkwunabo Road in Arochukwu LGA.
45. Maintenance work at St. Michaels Road, Aba.
46. Maintenance work at York Street to Azikiwe Road, Aba.
47. Maintenance Work at Mosque Street to Park Road,
48.Maintenance Work at Eziukwu Road to Mosque Street, Aba.
49. Maintenance Work at Umuatako Street, Aba.
50. Maintenance Work at Umuocham Road to Ukwu Apu, Aba.
51. Maintenance Work at Port Harcourt Road, Aba.
52. Maintenance Work at Omuma Road, Aba.
53. Maintenance Work at Umuagbai Road, Aba.
54. Maintenance Work at Faulks Road, Aba.
55. Maintenance Work at Aba Owerri Road, Aba.
56. Maintenance Work at Uratta Road, Aba.
57. Maintenance Work at Ohafia Street, Aba.
58. Maintenance Work at Umuocham Road, Aba.
59. Maintenance Work at Eziukwu Road, Aba
60. Maintenance Work at Umuatako Street, Aba, and many others.
1. Rehabilitation of Ndoki Road in Aba
2. Repair and maintenance work at Old Goods Shed Road, Umuahia
3. Maintenance of Calabar Road and its Spur
4. Repair of potholes and maintenance of failed portions/drainage at Olokoro Road (Holy Ghost College —Ahiaukwu )
5. Repairing of potholes along Isi Court – Madonna College of Health Tech to Ahiaukwu Olokoro and many others.
Special Projects:
1. Port Harcourt – Aba Section of the Port Harcourt –Enugu Expressway
2. Design of Aba – Owerri Road, Aba is Ongoing.
Uzoukwa also said Otti has expressed gratitude of his state for the 250 housing units the Federal Government brought to Abia under its Renewed Hope Cities and Estates Programme. Otti declared this during the groundbreaking of 250 Renewed Hope Housing Estate at Bende Local Government Area, near Umuahia.
Probably, what many consider Otti’s biggest achievement was the revival and completion of the Alaojii Power Station which has improved the power supply in the Aba area
