Abia state Governor, Dr Alex Otti says his administration is reclaiming the state from infrastructural decay to give her a pride of place in the comity of states.
Governor Otti stated this, Thursday, at the Banquet Hall during the 4th Edition of the Media Parley tagged, “Governor Otti Speaks”; a platform to interact with Newsmen on the activities of the state government.
The Governor who highlighted the activities of his administration, underscored the importance of the media Parley pointing out that it offers his government the opportunity to explain it’s policies and programs to the people.
He said the government embarked on 26 new roads which are at different stages of completion adding that about 6 brand new roads have been commissioned with 4 other roads in Aba, awaiting commissioning.
The Governor while emphasizing that selection of road construction is based on strategic importance also noted that the Zero pothole policy of his administration is aimed at ridding the state of potholes.
Governor Otti stated that the state government has come up with a comprehensive plan to combat perrienial flooding in Aba, nerve center of the state, as well as distilling of gutters.
Otti added that the project which is expected to take more than 18 months, is aimed at saving the environment from flooding.
He said the State Orientation Agency is on top of the campaign to reorientate Abians on the need to keep their environments clean and called on the people to support the cleanliness drive of the state government.
“We want our place to be sanitized and decent so that people who want to do business with us will come and invest”, Governor Otti said.
He encouraged Abians to continue to support the government and added that under his watch, the welfare of Abians remains top priority of his administration.
“We are single minded about change. We cannot achieve anything without your support”, he said.
On the activities of touting and illegal collection of levies, the Governor who assured that a more serious approach would be adopted to eliminate touting in the state said, the state government would commence a programme aimed at not only orientating the youths but also provide access to capital for them to be gainfully employed.
Speaking in the recently established Abia Global Economic Advisory Council, comprising notable figures including Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Khalifa Sanusi Lamido, Ms. Arunma Oteh, and others, Governor Otti informed that the council aims to provide advice and facilitate opportunities for local and foreign capital to support the state.
The Governor expressed gratitude to the council members for their pro bono service, expressing confidence in it’s positive impact on Abia’s economic development.
He highlighted initiatives of the state government in healthcare ,education among others and emphasized ongoing reforms in the civil service as well as efforts to address pensioners’ concerns and assured timely resolution and payment of leave allowances for eligible workers.
