Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti, has commissioned the landmark multimodal Bus Terminal in Umuahia and named the facility after the first female Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology Owerri, Prof Nnenna Nnennaya-Oti, in recognition of her courage, integrity and commitment to truth as the INEC returning officer in the 2023 governorship election that brought his administration into office.
Speaking during the commissioning ceremony of the Nnenna Oti Bus Terminal, on Wednesday, Governor Otti said the professor symbolised the values of honesty and patriotism demonstrated by many individuals who resisted pressure and defended the electoral process.
The governor stated that the naming of the terminal was not merely in honour of one person but a tribute to all those who stood against manipulation and electoral injustice.
He further explained that the honour represented a collective recognition of electoral officials, security operatives, party agents and citizens who played critical roles in ensuring the integrity of the electoral process.
“This terminal has been named after Professor Nnenna Nnannaya-Oti, the courageous INEC returning officer who demonstrated unflinching integrity in the discharge of her duties during a high-stakes election assignment here in Abia.
“In 2023, through her courageous disposition of standing firmly by the truth and refusing to treat her role in the 2023 election as an invitation to a sudden banquet, she reminded us that ordinary people can achieve extraordinary results by simply saying no.
“‘No to manipulation, no to injustice, no to conspiracy, and all such designs that steal the destinies of individuals and communities.
“So what we are saying today is that Professor Nnenna Oti represents all those staff of INEC who never bent, all those party officials who didn’t give in, all those people, security agencies, policemen, army men, DSS officials, so many of you, people who said no to intimidation. So she’s just a representative of all of you”, he said.
The governor in his speech titled, “Raising The Bar”, also used the occasion to outline his administration’s urban transport vision, saying the state had moved beyond road construction into building a comprehensive transport infrastructure ecosystem.
He added that the days of limiting the state’s aspirations had ended.
“Today we’ve gathered as witnesses to the actualisation of what was once thought impossible. A mega project that speaks to the size of our ambition as a government.
“The days of playing small is over. We shall no longer confine ourselves to the margins, nor think less of our ability, for we belong to the lineage of dreamers, thinkers and builders”, Governor Otti stated.
The Governor said the terminal, with a capacity to accommodate more than 340 buses simultaneously, was designed with emphasis on accessibility, comfort, safety and environmental sustainability.
According to him, the project forms part of an integrated transport system connected to recently completed junction improvement projects, bus shelters and electric bus services across the state.
He disclosed that 20 electric buses were currently operating within intra-city and inter-city routes, while an additional 20 buses were expected in the coming weeks and another 30 buses before the end of the year.
“Services will keep improving as more buses are delivered with time, and you can tell with accuracy when a particular bus will arrive and depart each bus station,” he said.
The governor further revealed that the facility was supported with independent power and water systems to ensure uninterrupted operations.
He urged residents, particularly members of the host community, to take ownership of the project and protect it from vandalism and misuse.
Governor Otti warned that government would not tolerance practices such as indiscriminate disposal of waste, vandalism, or theft, as the full weight of the law will be brought to bear against offenders.
He also called on citizens to fulfil their tax obligations, stressing that taxes remained critical to sustaining development.
In her remarks, Prof Nnenna Oti, said she merely carried out her responsibility and acted according to her conscience during the 2023 gubernatorial election which brought the Otti led administration to power.
“I simply did what I’ve done all my life. To do the right thing. And I stand, i still stand, I will continue to stand, and my truth voice must count. The mandate of the people must stand”, she said.
The professor expressed optimism about the country’s future and urged Nigerians to uphold truth and integrity.
Earlier in his address, the Commissioner for transport, Mr Chimezie Ukegbu, said the commissioning of the Prof Nnenna Otti marks a key milestone in the state’s transport reform agenda under Governor Alex Otti, describing it as a strategic intervention to restore order, safety and efficiency in urban transportation.
He noted that the facility is designed to ease congestion, improve traffic flow, enhance passenger safety and promote organised transport operations, while also driving economic activity through job creation, improved commerce and increased internally generated revenue for the state.
The event also featured a minute of silence in honour of the late former Commissioner for Transport, Comrade Sonny Onwuma whom Governor Otti described as a dedicated public servant whose contributions to the state’s transport sector would be remembered.
