Boniface Okoro in Umuahia
Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has acknowledged that the South-east governors had not deserted efforts to safe the discharge of detained Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) chief, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, insisting they had been nonetheless participating related federal authorities behind the scenes.
Otti, who disclosed this throughout his month-to-month media convention on the weekend in Umuahia, the state capital, burdened that particulars of the continuing negotiations wouldn’t be made public.
Kanu is serving a life sentence following his conviction on terrorism-related prices by the Federal High Court, Abuja.
Meanwhile, the governor additionally disclosed that Abia’s debt profile had dropped from ₦147.2 billion within the second quarter of 2023 to ₦48.6 billion within the second quarter of 2026, representing a discount of ₦98.6 billion.
Addressing issues over rising international debt obligations, Otti defined that the rise mirrored drawdowns from present multilateral services, together with the Abia State Integrated Infrastructure Development Project (ABSIID) and the Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP).
He maintained that his administration had undertaken no direct borrowing, including that any future loans can be strictly tied to productive investments.
“We will borrow for regenerative projects at the right time,” he stated.
The governor additionally introduced that the CKC water scheme in Aba was prepared for commissioning, expressing optimism that residents would quickly get pleasure from improved entry to public water provide.
He disclosed that one other sensible college would even be commissioned, bringing the quantity deliberate for the state to 21 following approvals for an extra facility.
Otti stated his administration was working to standardise schooling in private and non-private faculties, including {that a} committee arrange to assess authorities interventions had beneficial measures to promote wholesome competitors and enhance requirements.
The governor additional disclosed that Abia ranked second within the 2025/2026 Climate Governance Ranking, whereas over 5,000 Certificates of Occupancy had been issued in three years.
He stated the brand new housing venture in Umuahia had been oversubscribed, with balloting for potential beneficiaries anticipated to begin quickly.
On public well being, Otti stated the state had activated precautionary measures following Nigeria’s Ebola index case, with an isolation centre designated on the Modern Child Hospital.
He, nonetheless, burdened that no Ebola case had been recorded in Abia, urging residents to stay calm whereas observing well being protocols.
On eye care providers, Otti disclosed that over 31,000 screening workouts had been performed and 1,811 sufferers operated on, together with 304 beneficiaries of free cataract surgical procedures for susceptible residents.
He recommended the Eye Care Management Bureau for its efforts, promising to make investments extra in offering high quality eyecare providers to the individuals.
Otti additionally encourages residents to go for eye screening, stressing that early detection of eye illnesses helps in stopping blindness.
On the deliberate relocation of merchants round Isi-Gate in Umuahia, Otti stated the train can be gradual, insisting that affected merchants should be offered alternate options to shield their livelihoods.
He additionally directed that the ₦1 billion private reward introduced for academics through the 2026 World Teachers’ Day be shared amongst all academics within the state, no matter rank or place.
He clarified that the cash was a private reward and never an official authorities programme or promotion-related profit.
Otti stated his administration had prioritised street tasks in accordance to financial significance and urgency, with main roads in Aba and Umuahia receiving consideration due to their impression on companies, mobility, employment and income technology.
