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Dignity, Public Welfare and Accountability

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Being the Text of a State Broadcast by Governor Alex C. Otti, OFR, to Mark the 3rd Anniversary of His Administration

1. Umunnem ndi Abia, friends of our dear State, men and women of goodwill, I bring you joyful greeting as we mark yet another epoch in the continuing evolution of our land as a development frontline. Permit me to begin on a note of profound gratitude to the Almighty God to whom this State and its people are wholly dedicated. This day presents us a special opportunity to reflect on how far we have come, appreciate ourselves for the modest strides, and make a conscious decision to face the future with courage. Indeed, we have come a long way but the road ahead is still far, our journey is only just beginning. For all its shortcomings and imperfections, democracy has provided us a genuine vehicle for accelerated development. Better than all other alternatives, the freedom to choose our leaders, which is democracy’s ultimate advantage, has given us the leverage to take our destiny in our own hands.

2. On this day 3 years ago, a new era opened for us, as a government elected by the popular will of the people took the reins of leadership. From the very minute we took our oath, the task of charting a new course for the State kicked off in earnest. We hit the ground running from the very beginning because the promise of restoration could wait no longer. We were resolute in our resolve to push things into motion because we understood the weight of public expectation on our shoulders. Barely 24 hours after our inauguration, we were in the streets of Aba, leading the refuse disposal effort, not minding the heavy downpour. By refusing to be held back by an inclement weather, we sent out a clear message that the era of making excuses for failure was over. Ours is far from a perfect administration but even the most fervent critic cannot but acknowledge that on the most critical measures of progress, Abia, in the last 3 years, has turned the corner.

3. With the successful execution of more than 400 road infrastructure projects covering over 800 kilometres, it is safe to say that our journey into the transformation of our road networks as a major driver of prosperity across urban and rural communities has started. In the next few months, 82 other roads stretching over 200 kilometres shall be delivered and opened for public use. Our road infrastructure investments are carefully spread in ways that leave no part of the State behind; we are as mindful of the expectations of the Aba industrial and trading community as we are conscious of the wealth of resources that quality roads can open up in our agrarian centres. The timely completion of Port Harcout Road in Aba, Aguiyi Ironsi Boulevard in Umuahia and the 67-kilometre Umuahia-Uzuakoli-Abriba-Ohafia Road offers a telling example of the balance of our outlay. The quality of work on the new bridge over Igu River, adjacent to the historic Omenuko Bridge, point to the joy of restoration and the place of memory in our evolution. This same testimony is what you get from regular commuters at Ohanku Road in Aba, a road that lay in ruins for decades. The dualization of the 5.95-kilometre road leading to Abia Tower from Onuimo Bridge, now named Uma Ukpai Way, and the completion of the 11.5-kilometre Nunya- Eluama Road, now known as Ndubuisi Kanu Road amongst hundreds of other projects, stand as abiding testament to the measure of progress the State has witnessed in the last 36 months.

4. In addition to building durable, aesthetically-appealing roads, this administration has also recorded decent strides in quality healthcare delivery through sustained investments in personnel, infrastructure and the consistent supply of quality drugs and medical consumables. In the last 3 years, we have recruited close to a thousand healthcare professionals, from consultants to health technicians. The new employees have been posted to tertiary, secondary and primary health facilities to support the wellbeing of our people in the urban and rural communities. In pursuit of the compelling vision of setting the pace in public health delivery ecosystem, we have consistently earmarked 15% of our annual budget to the sector. This outlay has enabled the retrofitting and functionalisation of 277 and over 120 primary health facilities respectively. The general hospitals in Obingwa, Okeikpe, Ikwuano, Arochukwu and Ohafia have been retrofitted and supplied with relevant equipment to meet the New Abia service standard. In the same vein, we have also made good progress in tertiary health services following the resuscitation and expansion of the service framework at the Abia State Specialist Hospital and Diagnostic Centre here in Umuahia. Our projection is that over the next few months, the ongoing construction and remodelling projects at the Abia State University Teaching and Amachara General Hospitals shall be completed to further expand the tertiary care space. In the New Abia, the first measure of wealth is the health of the people. It is for this reason that we are pulling all the stops to set standards that align with our outlook for the sector.

5. Education is at the centre of our long-term development plan as documented, legislated upon and signed into law. The logic is that while our investments in physical infrastructure answer to the economic and social needs of the present, prosperity in the future will require a mass of enlightened and highly skilled population. In order not to be caught unawares by the demands of the new age economy, we had made it a convention to allocate no less than 20% of our annual budgetary provision to the education sector. It has been 3 years of consistency and the results are beginning to manifest as predicted. Just recently, I was at the Abia State University Uturu to commission several projects including hostel facilities and a 5MVA power substation. While in Uturu, we also flagged off the construction of a combined 10, 000 bed hostels for male and female students, new faculty buildings for the faculties of law and agriculture, a university cafeteria and kilometres of internal roads. Decent infrastructure turnaround is also happening at the Ogbonnaya Onu Polytechnic Aba and the College of Education (Technical) Arochukwu. In Aba and Arochukwu, we have completed the restoration of several residential facilities, lecture halls, intra-campus roads, sports complexes and other significant infrastructure projects. The more fundamental development happening in the tertiary education space is the recruitment of hundreds of quality personnel to instruct and mentor our students in their chosen fields of learning. We recently launched an initiative to stamp out the evil of extortion within the institutions. In the basic and secondary education sub-sector, I mentioned last week that we have not moved at the pace we wanted nevertheless, appreciable progress has also been recorded with particular respect to staff training following the recruitment of 5, 394 teachers last year. We are currently concluding the process of adding another set of 4, 000 new teachers to further boost the quality of learning in our public schools. The addition of new teachers became imperative following the jump in enrolment by over 150% in the last academic session.

6. In addition to the extensive investments in formal education, we are also keen on supporting other channels of youth development. In the past 3 years, we have trained thousands of young people on critical ICT skills from software engineering and AI integration to Cybersecurity using platforms like the TechRise skills development initiative and similar programmes. In addition to training and skills acquisition, we have moved further to incentivise innovation by earmarking funds in excess of N300 million to support technology-driven enterprises across the State. Our overarching vision is to give the young dreamers every necessary support to thrive, compete and find fulfilment in a world where knowledge is the ultimate capital.

7. Still on youth development and empowerment for value creation, the administration has taken an active interest in sports development, from grassroots sports activities to international sporting exposure. We are investing in the sports ecosystem with the singular intent of expanding the platform for self-expression because sports, beyond its recreational value, has grown into a major economic stronghold, opening channels of generous earning by sports professionals, investors and millions of other stakeholder groups. The just-concluded Abia SOCCERFEST tournament which began in the 184 wards before the final showpiece in Umuahia a few days ago, attest to our conviction that sports represent an excellent vehicle for community mobilisation and exposure. In the last 3 years, we have institutionalised state-wide sports tournaments for students in secondary and tertiary institutions. The intent is to purposely direct the energy of our young people, pull them away from unhealthy recreational activities and give the extraordinarily talented ones the platform to begin their ascent in the world of professional sporting.

8. We declared an emergency on waste management minutes after we took the oath of office on this day in 2023. I am glad to report that within the intervening period; the tempo has remained as high. After the evacuation of 2, 997 truckloads of garbage in the first few weeks, we have since moved methodically to set up a structured system to guarantee round-the-clock effective waste management. In addition to the prompt evacuation of solid waste, the State environmental protection agency, ASEPA, has significantly raised the bar by developing appropriate mechanism for managing industrial and household effluents, inventorisation of dumpsites to track threats and other novel initiatives to keep the environment safe.

9. The transport sector is another front where the administration has effectively changed the old narrative. Our network of quality roads, the recently commissioned bus terminal in Umuahia, the electric buses that ply major inter and intra-city routes, the 70 bus shelters, lay-bys and similar infrastructure investments have not only improved the daily commute experience of tens of thousands of people, they have made our roads safer and raised the appeal of our urban centres. Through our development initiatives in the sector, thousands of jobs have been created as new investments arrive to meet demands arising from the shift in appetite. The most impressive development for us is that the turnaround in the road transport ecosystem has led to a significant reduction in the cost of regular commute, when compared to other places. Even then, we are not unmindful of the difficulties that confront many fixed income earners in their commute to work; we shall continue to make interventions in the hope that normalcy would return in a short time.

10. In the power sector, significant gains have also been recorded by the administration. Abia, I am glad to report, has continued to build on the gains of the larger reforms in the national power ecosystem. We are currently ramping up investments in the sector, from alternative to conventional energy resources, to systems and structures that drive investments, job creation and industrial growth. Our efforts have led to the restoration of electricity in several communities that were previously disconnected from the grid owing to vandalism or infrastructure inadequacy. In the next few months, scores of other communities would have their electricity supply challenges resolved. We are working round the clock to support the capacity of private sector players in the energy space to deliver improved value for household and industrial consumers. Recall that we had already made a major acquisition that is intended to improve supply frequency in the Umuahia ring-fenced district. I am convinced that before the end of the year, we shall reach significant milestones in that regard. It is, however, encouraging to observe that several manufacturers have since picked the signal. Quietly but optimistically, they are setting up plants in different parts of the State to take advantage of the progress we have made in the electricity market.

11. In the agricultural sector, we are moving away from the old fixation with subsistence farming to an enterprise-oriented, technology-driven model. Our approach is data-enabled. In the last 3 years, we have done a comprehensive mapping of our agricultural assets, built a robust-data base of farmers and developed a holistic framework that is transforming the outlook to agro-investing, financing and management of small-holder farmers. Expectedly, Abia has become an attractive investment destination for multinational corporations with significant sums already committed in the agro value chain. As I said a few days ago, the days of playing small are long gone; while we shall continue to support small holder farmers with inputs and training, we are more invested on how to make the most of our agro-assets to create jobs and achieve food security.

12. Umunne m ndi Abia, permit me to also report that a significant turnaround has been recorded in the management of our land assets. We have holistically digitised the lands documents management system to improve transparency and process integrity. The mapping of the State has also been recently concluded. The target is to improve precise spatial data records and reap the body of benefits associated thereto. Our Cs-of-O in 30 days policy has greatly improved the value of our real estate. In the area of housing development, I am happy to announce that we have concluded arrangements for the flag off of the Civil Service Commission Pocket Layout Estate in Umuahia. Projected to be delivered in the next 12 months, the estate would improve the supply of residential homes in Umuahia as well as draw in capital and skilled professionals to the city.

13. In addition to the development of physical infrastructure, the State has prioritised the welfare of civil servants and retirees in absolute fidelity to the promise made at the inauguration podium on this day 3 years ago that never again will our civil servants and retirees take to the streets to ask for their monthly entitlements. Through the introduction of a robust health insurance programme, the administration has made it easy for its workforce and their dependents to access affordable healthcare, including surgeries without worrying about the cost. Additionally, we have made training and retraining a regular feature in the civil service. May I reiterate that we acknowledge the economic difficulties that fixed income earners face amidst the strong headwinds from forces outside our direct control. As earlier indicated, we shall continue to evolve initiatives to mitigate the impact on our people. I am, however, pleased that today in Abia, every legitimate employee of the State Government gets their entitlements as and when due; the certainty has made it easier for households and businesses to plan.

14. The administration has successfully engineered a shift in the approach to women empowerment. Through special intervention programmes supervised by various ministries, departments and agencies, hundreds of women have been supported to set up business clusters and take advantage of economic support programmes of the State Government and its network of partners. The government remains particularly mindful of women and girls in its recruitments, appointments and targeted interventions in agriculture, ICT, small and medium enterprises development and household support initiatives. Just recently, the Office of the First Lady commissioned 35 units of residential buildings across the 17 local government areas for indigent mothers. Efforts have also been intensified to protect the girlchild from all forms of assault; the recent launch of the Nchedo Sexual Assault Referral Centre speaks to our commitment in this regard.

15. What has distinguished our administration, in addition to the modest gains in infrastructure development; is the way we respond to the weak and vulnerable in our midst. Considerations for persons with disabilities form a critical thrust of all government policy frameworks. Our free basic education programme and continuous investment in the sector are intended to offer children from economically-disadvantaged background the chance to fight for a better future through learning and skills development.

16. Security was a major challenge in the State 3 years ago, several communities were held hostage as kidnappers, armed robbers and an assortment of different criminal groups set camps in the forests from where they launch sporadic attacks on innocent Abians. The situation today is entirely different for the simple reason that we take the security of the people as our primary obligation as the Constitution envisaged. Through effective support to security agencies, we have been able to reassert control. We do not have a perfect situation yet but there is no ambiguity on the preparedness of the administration to do what it must to keep the peace and security of our State.

17. One novel initiative we have taken to improve security and peaceful co-existence is the integration of the stakeholder model to our governance framework. Deliberate steps have been taken to bring traditional rulers and other community leaders, persons of influence, heads of town unions, youth and women groups to the decision-making table, regularly engaging with them to build consensus on development priorities. We shall continue in this regard especially as we move closer to the peak of the electioneering campaigns. In our book, it is fine to disagree but we must reject every invitation to disorder and conflicts.

18. Part of the reasons we have made remarkable progress in the last 36 months is a firm commitment to fiscal responsibility. Our record of expenditure per capita on capital investments is about the highest in the country and still, we have managed to liquidate the stock of public debts by 60% from 2023 figures. We are ranked by independent observers as one of the leading states on fiscal sustainability, accountability and transparency. We shall continue to strengthen the fiscal responsibility outline and commit more resources to assets that yield long term social and economic benefits. As I have consistently maintained, there is so much to do with funds that we cannot spare a dime for frivolities.

19. Let me conclude on a note of profound gratitude to members of the State Executive Council, especially the Deputy Governor, Engr. Ikechukwu Emetu, FNSE, for all the hard work and sacrifices of the last 3 years. The smiles on the faces of Ndi Abia, as we saw during the recent marathon of project commissioning exercise across the State, tell a thousand stories in faith and optimism for the future. At any rate, we must never lose sight of the fact that there is still so much to be done. Commendations are also due to members of the State House of Assembly led by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Emmanuel Ihuoma Emeruwa, for being worthy representatives of the 24 state constituencies. May I also thank members of the State Judiciary ably led by the Chief Judge, Honourable Justice Lilian Abai, for their commitment to unbiased, fair and fearless interpretation of the provisions of our laws. I would also like to take a moment to extend profound appreciation to the leadership of the 17 local government councils, the councillors and everyone in a position of public authority in the State. Each arm and tier of government is clearly independent but it is also true that we are serving the same community of people. I am glad that in the New Abia, public service is underpinned by a certain sense of duty. It is my conviction that the new culture of accountability would continue to find generous expressions in our disposition and response to the needs of our people.

20. Let me on a final note, thank you, umunne m ndi Abia for your relentless support and enthusiasm. We do not take your goodwill for granted. As I said on the floor of the State House of Assembly in December 2023, the opportunity to serve our people at this time is the greatest privilege of our lives and we shall never forget the sacrifices that made it happen. In the same vein, permit me to remind us to remain diligent in the discharge of our civic obligations; pay your taxes as and when due, keep the environment clean and support the law enforcement agencies to protect our communities through the supply of useful and timely information. This is our State, let us build it together.

21. Thank you for listening and may God bless you.