A true leader is one who turns impossibilities into possibilities, not by chance, but by courage, foresight, and an unyielding commitment to the people.
Such is the story of the Abia State Integrated Infrastructure Development Project (ABSIID), a transformative initiative that had lingered for nearly a decade, abandoned in the cracks of incompetence and negligence, but today reborn under the visionary leadership of Dr. Alex Otti, OFR.
For years, Abians had heard promises about infrastructure renewal. Roads, waste management, urban renewal, erosion control and watershed management, climate resilience, and rural accessibility were the stuff of campaign rhetoric, never reality. ABSIID was conceptualized but suffocated by lack of foresight, credibility, and seriousness. What could have been a flagship program for transformation became a graveyard of wasted grants and missed opportunities.
But in 2023, when a new dawn broke in Abia, the story changed.
The Project Structure – Three Institutions, One Vision
ABSIID is not an ordinary project. It is one of the most ambitious multilateral-financed infrastructure programs in Nigeria, designed to transform roads, control erosion and watershed menace, waste management, and climate adaptation measures across the State.
Its financing structure is a tripartite arrangement, supported by:
The African Development Bank (AfDB) – USD 100 Million
The Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) – USD 125 Million
The Canadian Climate Change Fund (CCCF) – USD 15 Million
Because of the structure of this financing, all three institutions must work in unison before implementation begins. This means rigorous feasibility studies, environmental and social safeguard studies, project appraisal documents, board approvals, and strict compliance with international best practices. Nothing is haphazard, nothing is hidden, and everything is globally benchmarked.
Loan Structure – Long-Term, Concessional & Safe
Contrary to the propaganda of those who thrive on lies and fake news, these facilities are not “toxic debts.” They are among the most concessional and development-friendly terms available anywhere in the world.
Breakdown of the facilities:
AfDB Facility: 25 years tenor, 8 years moratorium, floating interest rate to be determined at the time of repayment with 0.25% commitment charge.
IsDB Facility: 20 years tenor, 5 years moratorium, 0.6% interest rate, with an additional 0.4% penalty only if the project is delayed.
CCCF Facility: 25 years tenor, 8 years moratorium, 0.7% fixed interest.
This structure ensures that repayments will not begin until after the moratorium periods, giving the present administration time to grow Abia’s internally generated revenue (IGR), stabilize the economy, and build capacity. In fact, these loans are designed to pay for themselves: the infrastructure they deliver will expand commerce, reduce transport costs, open rural economies, and attract investment.
This is not “borrowing for consumption,” as seen in the past. This is borrowing for transformation.
The Genesis – From Slipshod To Rigor
To appreciate the significance of today’s victory, one must understand yesterday’s failure.
The ABSIID project was conceptualized years ago. AfDB even provided grants for feasibility studies. But what was the outcome? Funds were spent but no credible result.
When AfDB demanded due process, board approvals, structured plans, and transparent engagements, none came. Attempts were made to cut corners. Shortcuts became the norm. “Free money” without the hard work was a preferred option. Men of good will including the current Governor added their voice in calling out the then government to do the right thing.
By the time the feasibility study was finally completed, COVID-19 struck, AfDB redirected resources elsewhere, and the project slipped into oblivion. To proceed, AfDB required a co-financier. IsDB refused to engage, sensing the lack of rigor of the borrower then. Thus, for nearly a decade, ABSIID remained dead in the water — killed by cluelessness, mediocrity, and greed.
The Turning Point – Leadership Matters
Everything changed in 2023 when Dr. Alex Otti assumed office.
His global reputation, managerial competence, and integrity restored confidence in Abia. Within months, the Executive Vice President of IsDB, Dr Mansur Muhktar, personally reached out to the Governor, offering renewed commitment. AfDB soon followed, completing its board approvals. The Canadian Climate Change Fund signed on.
What had been impossible for nearly a decade became possible within months. Why? Leadership. Credibility. Vision. Discipline.
The state then secured National Assembly approval for the borrowing plan, fulfilling all requirements of Nigeria’s debt management framework. For the first time in years, Abia was not begging — Abia was negotiating, respected as a credible partner by global institutions.
Let us be clear: ABSIID is not just about figures on paper. It is about roads, bridges, and services that touch lives directly.
It is about turning the nightmare of abandoned roads across Umuahia and Aba metropolis into a smooth artery of trade.
It is about linking rural communities with modern access roads that will bring their produce to markets.
It is about building resilient drainage, climate-smart infrastructure, and waste management systems that improve public health.
Every kilometer of road to be built is a kilometer of hope. Every bridge is a bridge into prosperity. Every completed project is a testimony that governance, when done right, is the fastest tool for development.
The Opposition’s Hypocrisy
It is laughable and tragic that the very people who frustrated this project for about a decade now parade themselves as apostles of accountability.
They had the chance.
They had the grant.
They had the feasibility study.
And yet, they failed!
Today, they cry wolf, spreading lies, distorting facts, and insulting the intelligence of our people. But Abians are wiser now. They know the difference between propaganda and performance, between excuses and execution.
The truth is simple: the opposition fears Otti’s success because it exposes their years of failure.
The Victory of Vision
The realization of ABSIID is not just a project milestone. It is a paradigm shift.
It proves that when a leader with credibility and vision emerges, what seems impossible becomes inevitable.
Dr. Alex Otti has not only revived a forgotten project. He has restored Abia’s dignity on the global stage. He has shown that with courage and foresight, development is possible, loans can be safe, and the people can win.
History will remember this moment as the turning point when Abia broke free from the shackles of mediocrity and embraced the path of sustainable progress.
The lesson is clear: leadership matters. Vision matters. Integrity matters. And with Dr. Alex Otti at the helm, Abia is finally becoming what it was destined to be, a state of promise, prosperity, and pride.
