The Governor of Abia State, Alex Otti, says his administration has paid off N72 billion out of the N138 billion debt inherited from previous governments since he assumed office in May 2023. He made this known during the April edition of his monthly media chat held at the Government House in Umuahia.
The governor explained that the figures came from the Debt Management Office (DMO), which confirmed that the state’s debt now stands at N66 billion as of December 2024. “So that being, by their numbers, we have paid down N72 billion of inherited debt and we have added no dime in borrowing,” Otti said.
Governor Otti noted that his administration’s careful financial approach made this achievement possible. According to him, fiscal discipline, honesty in transactions, and clear negotiations have helped reduce the debt without taking new loans.
“On the management of our resources, we will continue to be prudent to ensure that no kobo of Abia money is wasted. Some people are used to wasting money. But this government is very good,” he said.
He also pointed out that the actual debt burden might be higher than reported by the DMO, as it did not include backlogs of salaries, pensions, and contractor payments owed by the previous administration.
On healthcare, Otti shared progress on “Project Ekwueme,” which aims to build or upgrade 200 primary health centres across Abia. He said 103 centres were already at different stages of completion. “On the average, we have attained about 70% completion,” he added.
He further announced that general hospitals are being upgraded, with new health workers being hired. A total of 771 medical staff will be recruited to improve services. The administration has also introduced new pay packages for healthcare workers.
One major healthcare project is the planned Abia Medical City, a privately funded $1.3 billion investment aimed at reducing the amount Nigerians spend abroad for medical treatment. “We have signed off on a new upgrade and transfer model with a credible partner who has secured the funding. We have seen the colour of the money,” Otti said.
In education, the governor noted that over 700,000 students are now enrolled under the state’s free and compulsory basic education scheme. To meet rising demand and improve learning, the state has approved the hiring of 9,000 more teachers.
Speaking on infrastructure, Governor Otti announced that the reconstruction of the long-abandoned Port Harcourt Road in Aba, being handled by Julius Berger, is almost completed and set for commissioning on May 29.
He also touched on agriculture and security, stating that the state is taking steps to boost food production and maintain peace. Though he gave no specific figures for the farming sector, he urged citizens to cooperate with security agencies to keep the state safe.
