Alex Otti

UMUAHIA- Gov. Alex Otti of Abia on Tuesday, distributed 11 transformers of  different capacities to various communities to boost power supply in the state.

Speaking during the handover ceremony in Umuahia, Otti emphasised the crucial role of reliable electricity in fostering industrialisation and economic growth.

The governor represented by the Commissioner for Power and Utilities, Mr Ikechukwu Monday, said that without a stable power supply, it would be difficult to sustain any kind of industrial progress in the state.

“We are a blessed state and very industrious people and we cannot promote industrialisation without reliable electricity.

“So this is part of that gesture that would help us achieve that goal,” he said.

Otti revealed that the government procured 53 transformers in December, specifically to boost electricity supply in various communities in the state.

He said that the transformers were the first batch they procured and would be distributing to communities in the state.

“So, today we will be handing over to 11 communities and the entire week, we will distribute the remaining transformers to the benefitting communities.

“This is done because they were assessed according to first come, first serve basis.

 “We reviewed the applications and the ones we found worthy are the ones that are receiving,” Otti said.

According to the governor, the initiative is part of his social contract with the people of Abia, aimed at promoting and providing reliable electricity supply to the communities.

He urged the benefitting communities to take ownership of the transformers and guard it against vandalism.

“I will like to urge the communities, especially the community heads; today you will be signing an attestation before we will handover this transformer to you.

“This is to reinforce that you will take responsibility of this transformers and that you will hold it as a treasure and protect it against any form of threat or vandalism.

“This is tax payers money that is put to work, so you should endeavour to ensure that you will handle it with care, protect it and provide enough security.

“If there is any support you need, my office is always ready and open to listen to you and support you,” he said.

Otti said that the distribution exercise would continue until the rest of the transformers are given to the communities shortlisted to benefit from the exercise.

Responding on behalf of other benefitting communities, Eze Innocent Ezeala of Ibe Uzo Amawom Oboro Community, in  Ikwuano Local Government Area(LGA), described the initiative as a welcome development.

Ezeala said it as a demonstration of the present administration’s commitment to the transformation of the state.

“This gesture points to the fact that government is setting up systems that will make Abia a state that works in every sector.

“The funny thing is that I visited the Ministry of Power and Utility, to submit an application for a transformer for my community without seeing the commissioner.

“I was called on phone to come for the transformer without having to grease anyone’s palms with anything in order to get it,” he said.

Ezeala urged the government to continue in its trajectory of rebuilding the state.

NAN reports that some of the communities that benefited from the first phase of the exercise include: Umuogo in Umuahia South LGA, Amaegbuato-Nkpa in Bende LGA and Okpuala/Umuelenwa in Isiala Ngwa North LGA.

Others are Agbama-Olokoro in Umuahia South LGA, Ibe Uzo Amawom in Ikwuano LGA, Umuoruku in Obingwa LGA, Atani Abam in Arochukwu LGA and Ndi Oti Alicho-Acho in Arochukwu LGA.

Other benefitting communities are: Abayi Ohanze in Obingwa LGA, Nwokoma Environs-Umuagbaghi in Aba South LGA and Umuokelenta Amaoba Oboro in Ikwuano LGA.(NAN

UMUAHIA- Gov. Alex Otti of Abia, on Wednesday, commissioned the reconstruction of the 5.95-Kilometer Umuahia-Onuimo Bridge Road.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the project begins from the Abia Tower of Peace on the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway and terminates at the Onuimo Bridge (the boundary between Abia and Imo).

In a speech at the ceremony, Otti said that the project was initiated to fulfill his administration’s promise to transform the entry points to the state.

“At the beginning of this administration, we made a commitment that we shall rebuild, remodel and improve the aesthetics of all the entrance points to Abia from our neighbouring states.

“Our goal is to change the old, unpleasant narrative, which gave the state a certain notoriety as a destination that announces itself through bad roads, heaps of garbage, foul air and other fatal  signs of governance failure.

“We announced that in our time that whoever is coming to our state will have an inviting experience.

“We promised that expansive and well maintained road networks, good air quality and a good and tidy environment shall be the hallmark of every entry point to Abia,” he said.

Otti also expressed his administration’s resolve to institute a new governance philosophy that prioritises the people and social status of Abia at the core of its undertakings.

He said that the road is a federal road and thanked the Federal Government for giving the neccessary approvals for the State Government to fix it.

“I want to thank the Federal Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, and his team for cooperating with our Commissioner for Works and our team to work out the technical details of this project.

“It is important to underscore this because this road continues into Imo, so there were issues about alignment whenever the Federal Government takes off its own part.

“So, we have to work together so that whenever the Federal Government takes it’s part from Onuimo all the way into Owerri, there will be alignment.

“This is a federal road as I have said but in the new Abia, our major concern is to keep roads within the boundaries of Abia in good condition, whether such roads are designated as federal, state or local government roads.

“We consider such roads critical economic enablers, supporting our domestic economy as well as improving the social condition of the citizens,” Otti said.

He urged Abia people to fulfill their civic obligations through payment of taxes and statutory fees to enable the government to carry out more developmental projects in the state.

Otti also affirmed the government’s  commitment to effectively deploy state funds in investment channels that yield huge social return for the people.

The lawmaker representing Ikwuano/Umuahia Federal Constituency, Chief Obi Aguocha, described the road as a landmark project that would boost economic development of the area.

Aguocha commended the government for its sustained efforts in delivering the dividend of democracy to the citizens.

He urged Abia residents to continue to support the present administration’s rebuilding agenda.

Also, the Commissioner for Works, Mr Otumchere Oti, said that the project would rebrand the state’s identity by creating an all inspiring, first impression for commuters entering the state from Onuimo.

Oti said that the project had a contract period of 18 months and would be an asphaltic concrete dual carriageway.

He said: “Each carriageway has a width of 7.6 meters with 1.5 meter wide shoulders, both carriageways are separated by a concrete median 60-centimeter wide.

“The pavement consists of 200-milimeter approved laterite softbase, 200-milimeter broad stonebase,16-milimeter asphaltic binder course, and 40-millimeter asphaltic wearing course.

“It will also have 30-milimeter thick asphaltic concrete wearing course on the shoulders, culverts, drains and drainage outfalls will be provided at some critical locations.

Oti said that erosion protection works would be carried out in areas with high flood intensity.

He also said that access slabs would be provided, where neccessary and solar street lights would line the entire stretch of the road.

In separate speeches, the lawmaker representing Umuahia South State Constituency, Mr Jacob Obioma, and the Chairman, Umuahia South Local Government Area, Mr Chinedu Enweruzo, described the project as commendable.

They said that the government had further strengthened the confidence of the people in its rebuilding agenda, focused on transforming the state.

Earlier, the President-General of Umuopara Development Union, Chief Emenike Onuoha, expressed joy over governor’s decision to rehabilitate the road.

Onuoha said that the project, which would help to alleviate the sufferings of motorists and commuters, had given his community a sense of belonging.

NAN further reports that the governor also commissioned the 6.92-km Umuopara Ring Road for construction. (NAN)

ABUJA- Gov. Alex Otti of Abia has urged Nigerian youths to join politics to decide their fate and make a difference.

Otti gave the advice during Church Service at The Transforming Church (TTC), on Sunday in Abuja.

He explained that every society needs the leadership it deserves, saying: “If you sit back and say politics is for politicians, the politicians will decide everything for you.

“I am challenging all the young people here. Don’t shy away from politics. That is where decisions about your future are made.”

Quoting Psalms 62:11, the governor said that power belongs to God and advised the youths against shying away from power.

“You can make a lot of changes if you have power, and that is what politics will give you to create the changes you want to see in the lives of your people.

“This is because, holding a political office affords people the opportunity to affect the lives of more people than one can imagine,” he said.

Otti said that he left the banking sector in 2014 and joined politics to make a difference by doing things differently.

He said that as the governor of Abia, he could affect the entire population of the state by just one action.

He called on Christians not to pray alone but compliment it with hard work, adding that that way, their dreams and aspirations would come through.

During the sermon, the lead pastor of the church, Rev. Sam Oye, who spoke on the goodness of God, called on Nigerians to keep their faith strong and not to give up on their dreams.

Reading from Psalm 119:68, Oye stressed the need for people to learn how to be good to others.

He thanked the Otti for visiting the church and reiterated the commitment of the church in praying for those in positions of leadership. (NAN)

UMUAHIA. – Gov. Alex Otti of Abia says his administration is determined  to continue to expand the frontiers of opportunities for the state and its citizens to thrive.

Otti said this on Tuesday in his goodwill message to mark the 33rd Anniversary of the Creation of Abia  in Umuahia.

Abia was created on August 27, 1991 by Ibrahim Babangida’s military junta.

The governor said that the government was desirous to support the men and women of Abia working to actualise the vision of the founding fathers.

He said that “through our infrastructure restoration and expansion projects in rural and urban communities, new corridors of opportunities are being created in agriculture and allied industries, retail trade, transportation, petroleum and solid mineral exploration, and so much more.

“Our economic development agenda is firmed on the creation of jobs and alleviation of poverty,” the governor said.

According to him, the government has embarked on the process of building a new Abia and the people have become active players in the venture of rebuilding the state.

 He said that the citizens provide very critical support and direction to ensure that government would fulfill its promises and  state resources would be properly utilised to meet the needs of the majority.

Otti said that the government had evolved a comprehensive development framework, which explains the focus on building new  physical infrastructure and  improving access to social services through sustained Investments.

“Additionally, communities that were previously held hostage by criminal gangs have been liberated on the strength of our commitment to making Abia a truly safe destination for residents and businesses,” he said.

Otti promised to double his efforts and to work very hard in order to fulfil his campaign promises which, he said, won his administration the trust of the people.

“We acknowledge that things have not gone according to plan, following unanticipated economic headwinds that have made planning very difficult for families, businesses and the government.

“Even then, we must refuse to give in to despair because this present storm shall definitely pass.

“We should go out today and always with our heads held high like our ancestors.

“We are the scions of brave men and women, our parents and grandparents lived through wars and famine, yet, they did not stop dreaming, they were set apart by the power of optimism.

“As a people, this is the best time to look beyond the present circumstances and count our many blessings,” he further said.

He urged the people to take great pride in the achievements of the state in its 33 years and step into the future with courage that “our victory will come”.

“Abia, as we promised, shall be great in our lifetime because we know we have what it takes to do it and we shall do it, for ourselves, and our children,” he added. (NAN)