Governor Otti Vows To Partner FG To Deliver Democratic Dividends

Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has urged stakeholders in Nigeria’s extractive sector to pay closer attention to the evolving energy ecosystem and embrace transparency and innovation as the nation transitions to low and non-carbon energy sources.

The Governor made this call while declaring open a two-day National Stakeholders’ Retreat and Board Meeting of the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), held in Umuahia, the Abia State capital. The retreat, themed “Impacts of Energy Transition on the Nigerian Economy”, brought together top government officials, industry leaders, and policy experts.

Delivering a speech titled “Prosperity Through Transparency”, Governor Otti emphasized the need for NEITI to implement systems that prioritize national interest and industrial accountability, warning against the repetition of past missteps in resource management.

“NEITI would do well to pay close attention to the evolution of this new ecosystem with respect to the business of exploration of mineral resources,” he said. “It should set up systems that are pro-Nigeria in terms of reporting and industrial accountability to avoid a repeat of the costly mistakes of the past.”

Otti called on stakeholders to remain proactive in adapting to the dynamics of the global shift from traditional to renewable energy sources, and to develop paradigms that eliminate sharp practices in the sector.

“As a State, we are preparing for the future,” he declared. “Thousands of solar-powered streetlights have been installed across Abia, improving public safety while cutting energy costs. This is giving us a foundation to evolve a broader, sustainable energy policy.”

He disclosed that the state is currently training hundreds of young people in the installation and management of modern energy infrastructure and has established a public-private investment vehicle, APTAN Energy Limited—a joint venture involving the Abia State Government, the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN), and a private consortium.

Governor Otti affirmed his administration’s readiness to partner with the Federal Government to harness the State’s abundant mineral resources and deliver the dividends of democracy to Abians. He commended NEITI for its commitment to transparency and accountability in the sector and expressed gratitude to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Sen. Dr. George Akume, for supporting the ideals of the initiative.

In his keynote address, SGF and Chairman of the NEITI National Stakeholders’ Working Group, Sen. Dr. George Akume, described the retreat as a strategic platform for evaluating progress and adjusting Nigeria’s approach to energy reforms. He reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to ensuring a just, inclusive, and citizen-centered energy transition.

“Governor Otti’s transformative development agenda and people-centered governance model are highly commendable,” Akume said. “The Federal Government appreciates the conducive environment Abia has provided for this retreat.”

Earlier, NEITI’s Executive Secretary/CEO, Dr. Orji Ogbonnaya Orji, stated that the retreat’s theme is timely, acknowledging the complexities the global energy transition presents. He revealed that NEITI had commissioned a study on the implications of the shift, which has made significant progress, and expressed hope that the retreat would yield practical recommendations to guide the sector.

He also thanked Governor Otti for hosting the retreat and called on stakeholders to fully engage in the deliberations.

The retreat is expected to conclude with resolutions aimed at strengthening transparency, accountability, and sustainable development in Nigeria’s extractive industries.