Governor Alex Otti has attributed Abia State’s emergence as Nigeria’s third most improved state in the 2026 Phillips Consulting State Performance Index to his administration’s strategic investments in healthcare, education, infrastructure.
Also his governance and the growing collaboration with the Federal Government, including the recent visit of the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.

Speaking during the July edition of his monthly media chat at the Government House, Umuahia, Governor Otti described the latest ranking as a clear validation of his administration’s reforms.

The Governor said the progress reflects the positive impact of government policies on the lives of Abians.
The first Abia citizen noted that Abia has made one of the most remarkable improvements in the country’s performance ranking, rising from 36th position in 2024 to 10th in 2025, and now 3rd in the 2026 Phillips Consulting State Performance Index, behind only Enugu and Jigawa States.

Governor Otti said the state’s transformation has been driven by sustained investments in critical sectors, particularly healthcare, education, infrastructure, land administration and economic development.

Highlighting achievements in the health sector, he disclosed that Abia recorded one of Nigeria’s best performances in reducing maternal and infant mortality in the first quarter of 2026, while enrolment into the Abia State Health Insurance Scheme continues to increase.

According to him, 144 of the state’s 200 Primary Healthcare Centres have been fully functionalised, while 77 additional health facilities renovated through the World Bank intervention have also been completed, with about 30 more centres expected to become operational soon.

On transportation and infrastructure, Governor Otti announced that the state has received 20 additional electric buses, which would operate on routes including Umuahia–Bende–Arochukwu, Umuahia–Uturu (ABSU), Umuahia–Umudike–Ikwuano, Aba–Owerri and Aba–Ukwa. He added that surveillance systems have been installed in the buses to ensure accountability and improve service delivery.

The Governor further disclosed that work is progressing steadily on the Aba Bus Terminal, while the first phase of the Ekeoma Market remodelling has been completed and would soon be commissioned.
In the area of land administration, Governor Otti said the government has issued 4,923 Certificates of Occupancy within three years, with nearly 1,000 processed this year alone, adding that the completion of the state’s digital mapping project in partnership with UN-Habitat would usher in a fully digitised land administration system that would eliminate fraudulent land transactions and speed up property documentation.

On education, he said the administration’s Smart School initiative is gathering momentum with two Smart Schools already commissioned out of the planned twenty, assuring that the remaining eighteen schools would be completed soon.
“The idea is to expose our children to modern technology from an early stage,” the Governor stated.
Addressing ongoing infrastructure projects, Governor Otti acknowledged that the rainy season has slowed the pace of road construction but assured residents that work continues across major project sites. He also reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ending flooding through the construction of durable drainage infrastructure.

Responding to concerns over rising rents in Umuahia and Aba, the Governor attributed the increase to growing demand for accommodation and announced that the government would soon commence the Pocket Layout Housing Project in Umuahia to bridge the housing deficit.
Governor Otti described the recent visit of the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, as a major boost to Abia’s creative economy. He revealed that a dedicated bank account has been opened for the Akwete Cloth Production Hub, while the First Lady has authorised the release of the funds she pledged to support the Akwete women’s weaving initiative.
He urged residents to promote indigenous industries by patronising and wearing the locally woven Akwete fabric.

The Governor also commended residents for embracing environmental sanitation, urged them to sustain the culture of cleanliness, praised security agencies for maintaining peace across the state and congratulated the Commissioner of Police on his promotion to the rank of Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG).

The Federal Government has taken decisive steps to preserve Nigeria’s historical assets, boost tourism, and strengthen aviation infrastructure in Abia State, with key interventions focused on the retrofitting of the Ojukwu Bunker, the National War Museum, and active collaboration on the proposed Abia International Airport project in Nsulu.

At the forefront is the Federal Government’s approval of a contract for the comprehensive retrofitting of the historic Ojukwu Bunker and the National War Museum. This intervention underscores a strong national commitment to safeguarding Nigeria’s civil war history, restoring critical heritage infrastructure, and repositioning these iconic sites as major tourism and educational destinations.
The move is expected to enhance cultural preservation, attract local and international visitors, and stimulate economic activities around the sites.

In the aviation sector, the Federal Government is also playing a strategic role in the development of the Abia International Airport in Nsulu.
As part of this collaboration, approval has been secured for the allocation of 200 hectares of land for the establishment of a Nigerian Air Force base within the airport corridor.
This federal presence not only strengthens security architecture around the airport but also signals long-term commitment to the viability and national integration of the project.

These interventions further align with broader federal directives on security and institutional reforms, including ongoing considerations for state policing frameworks, where subnational governments like Abia are working in tandem with federal authorities to enhance internal security mechanisms.

Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has applauded the Federal Government for these critical interventions, describing them as timely and impactful. He particularly commended the approval of the retrofitting project for the Ojukwu Bunker and National War Museum, noting that it marks a major milestone in preserving the state’s rich historical and cultural heritage.

Speaking during his monthly media chat, Governor Otti also praised the State Ministry of Arts and Culture and its Commissioner, Mr. Mathew Ekwuribe, for facilitating progress in the sector.
He emphasized that the restoration of these national monuments will not only protect history but also unlock tourism potential and create economic opportunities for the state.

The Governor reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to supporting arts, culture, and tourism as critical drivers of sustainable development, while urging continued excellence from public officials.
“The reward for good work is more work,” he stated, encouraging sustained momentum.

On political matters, Governor Otti reiterated his unrelenting commitment to the Labour Party, dismissing speculations of defection. He noted that internal party disputes had been conclusively resolved by the Supreme Court, with compliance from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), positioning the party for stronger future engagements.

Addressing security matters, the Governor cautioned against ethnic profiling of criminals, stressing that crime should not be attributed to any particular group. He restated his administration’s inclusive governance approach and urged residents to provide credible intelligence to security agencies.

Governor Otti also stated that he would not oppose President Bola Ahmed Tinubu should he seek re-election in 2027, noting that his own political focus remains on securing a second term as governor.
Providing further updates, the Governor highlighted ongoing developments across key sectors, including housing expansion to address rising rents, major investments in agriculture and industry, healthcare upgrades, and education infrastructure improvements.

The governor further announced that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints had donated an MRI machine worth $1 million to the state.
He said 569 healthcare workers have been recruited out of an approved 774, while recruitment remains open. He added that 227 primary healthcare centres are being upgraded to ensure at least one functional facility per ward.
He also confirmed significant milestones such as the recruitment of healthcare workers, upgrading of primary health centres, and major private sector investments, alongside continued work on the Abia Innovation and Industrial Park.

Governor Otti ,however, commended residents and security agencies for maintaining peace during a recent protest, which he said was handled professionally without escalation.

Overall, the combined efforts of the Federal Government and Abia State Government reflect a coordinated push toward infrastructural development, heritage preservation, economic growth, and enhanced security, positioning Abia as an emerging hub for tourism, investment, and sustainable development.

The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, has been formally presented with a Patron Award plaque by the Online Media Practitioners Association of Nigeria (OMPAN), Abia State Chapter, in recognition of his outstanding and consistent support for the association.

Receiving the plaque, the Deputy Speaker expressed deep appreciation to OMPAN for the honour, describing it as both humbling and motivating. He urged online media practitioners to broaden their focus beyond politics to include economic development, humanitarian courses,research, and other sectors that positively shape the society.
Rt. Hon. Kalu commended OMPAN for embracing the future of media through unity on a common digital platform and assured the association of his continued support.

He, however, cautioned members to remain professional, ethical, and non-partisan, warning against being used as tools to attack or undermine individuals and institutions.

Earlier while presenting the plaque, the Abia State Chairman of OMPAN, Mr  Promise Uzoma Okoro, explained that the Deputy Speaker was selected alongside ten other eminent Abians as a patron due to his remarkable contributions to the growth and progress of the association.
Mr  Okoro recalled that Rt. Hon. Kalu was officially unveiled as a Patron during OMPAN’s 3rd Annual General Meeting (AGM) on December 12, 2025, but was unavoidably absent, necessitating the formal presentation of the plaque at a later date.

He further lauded the Deputy Speaker for playing a key role in ensuring that OMPAN Abia State now has a physical office, describing the achievement as a major milestone in the association’s history.

Also speaking, the Chairman of OMPAN’s Board of Trustees, Mazi Ugochukwu Nwankwo, declared that if a higher honour existed beyond the Patron Award, the association would have gladly bestowed it on Rt. Hon. Kalu, whom he described as OMPAN’s strongest supporter.

The event underscored the growing synergy between responsible governance and a vibrant, ethical online media community in Abia State.