Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti, says his administration has reduced the state’s debt profile by about 60 per cent, from N121 billion in 2023 to below N50 billion by the end of 2025, amid ongoing fiscal reforms aimed at strengthening public finance and governance.
Governor Otti made the disclosure on Friday, during the May edition of the monthly media parley, tagged “Governor Otti Speaks“, where he reviewed key achievements as his administration marks three years in office.
The governor said the reforms reflect his government’s commitment to transparency, fiscal discipline and people-oriented governance.
He noted that Abia’s performance indicators in sustainability and accountability have improved significantly over the period.
Governor Otti added that his administration’s approach to fiscal management had also attracted positive recognition from independent organisations with assessments showing progress in the state’s governance ranking.
“We have been able to reduce our debt profile significantly, by about 60 per cent from about 121 billion in 2023 to less than 50 billion at the end of 2025″.
“The BudgIT State of States report moved Abia from No. 17 two years ago in 2023 to No. 4 last year in 2025 and we believe it will continue to do well.
“These are independent rankings. It just gives you an idea of how the government is being run”, he added.
Governor Otti further revealed that his administration has intensified efforts to recover assets and properties belonging to the state government which were illegally acquired by individuals.
He stated that while some individuals challenged government actions in court, his administration remains committed to safeguarding public property.
“We have also recovered a lot of stolen assets, especially from people who acquired them illegally. Some of them have challenged us in courts and we have met them there.
“This government is very, very strict about government property”, he said.
The Governor explained that measures had also been introduced to prevent future illegal appropriation of government assets.
According to him, the state government has criminalised the unauthorised acquisition and occupation of government property in addition to strengthening legal frameworks to reclaim state assets.
The Governor also highlighted efforts aimed at improving urban planning and land administration, particularly through the completion of the new Aba Master Plan.
He said the Aba Master plan initiative was developed in collaboration with international development partners and would soon be formally launched.
“We also have completed the new Aba Master Plan. It will be launched any moment from now”, Governor Otti said.
The Governor also disclosed that 4,077 Certificates of Occupancy had already been signed under the present administration, within the three years he assumed office.
He described the development as a major step towards improving land administration and boosting investor confidence.
According to the governor, his administration worked alongside development agencies to digitise land administration processes and improve transparency in property documentation.
He explained that government had commenced the scanning and digitisation of land records and survey documents to create a centralised system capable of verifying land ownership and authenticity of documents.
“The good idea is to have everything scanned into the system. At the click of a button, you can search and know whether the document you have is original or fake”, he stated.
On infrastructure, Governor Otti said road construction remains a major priority of his administration due to its direct impact on economic activities and social development.
The governor disclosed that within three years, his government completed 414 roads covering about 864.12 kilometres across different parts of the state.
According to him, many of the completed projects would be commissioned as part of activities marking his administration’s third anniversary.
“There are another 82 roads under construction and they are at different stages of completion”, he announced.
The Governor stated that the roads under construction span about 212 kilometres and include complementary infrastructure such as drainage systems and street lighting.
He explained that maintenance arrangements had also been put in place through direct labour initiatives and a zero-pothole policy aimed at sustaining road quality.
“Of course, we don’t need to over-emphasise the importance of roads because they reduce transport costs, improve business efficiency, accelerate trade and commerce and most importantly create jobs”, Governor Otti said.
He added that the projects had also helped strengthen the engineering capacity of local professionals engaged in various construction activities.
On sanitation, Governor Otti noted that following the declaration of a state of emergency on assumption of office, Abia has now become one of the cleanest states in Nigeria.
According to him, over 13 tonnes of waste are evacuated weekly, while more than 2,000 jobs have been created through the Abia State Environmental Protection Agency (ASEPA).
The governor revealed that the state’s transport initiative has conveyed over 326,000 passengers, with 20 new buses expected by July with another 30 buses expected before year-end.
He announced that the Umuahia Multimodal Transport Terminal has been completed and would be commissioned on May 27, while the Aba terminal is expected to be completed next year.
To support transportation sustainability, the Governor said that the government is installing solar hybrid charging systems for buses and has delivered 70 bus shelters across Umuahia and Aba.
Governor Otti who reeled out his administration’s major achievement across key sectors including health, education, women and youth development, power,public utilities, said they were part of efforts to drive economic growth and transform the state.
The governor said the administration had remained focused on restoring public confidence in governance through deliberate reforms and prudent management of state resources.
He maintained that his administration has restored confidence in governance and renewed the pride of Abians both within and outside the state.
“The most important part of this administration is the impact it has made in human capital development, infrastructure, fiscal responsibility, social justice and restoring the dignity of our people.
“So, without any fear of contradiction, we can say that we have restored the pride of our people, both home and abroad. And it is not our certainty, it is your trust in us that helped us collectively do it”, Governor Otti stated.
He reiterated that his administration would continue to pursue reforms and infrastructure projects aimed at accelerating development and improving the quality of life of residents across the state.
