The Abia State Government has flagged off the 2026 Zonal Traditional Rulers’ Capacity Building Workshop for Abia Central Senatorial Zone, as part of efforts to strengthen traditional institutions for peace, security and grassroots development.

Governor Dr. Alex Otti, OFR, declared the workshop open on Thursday, July 6, 2026 at the Umuahia North LGA Headquarters. He was represented by the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Prince Uzor Nwachukwu.

The Governor said the workshop was designed to equip royal fathers with modern tools for conflict resolution, administrative leadership and community development.

“We are not gathering traditional rulers just to have you in one place. Our core objective is to awaken the responsibility consciousness of our traditional rulers and connect the timeless wisdom of our community leadership heritage with the evolving demands of modern governance,” Gov. Otti stated.

He described traditional rulers as _”the first line of defence in community peace, stability and development” and urged them to make effective use of the training.

The workshop, organized by the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs in collaboration with the 17 Local Government Councils, has the theme: “Strengthening Traditional Institutions for Peace, Security, Inclusive Governance and Sustainable Community Development in Abia State.”

Giving an overview, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Lady Oge Maduka, said the programme seeks to strengthen leadership capacity, reinforce cultural custodianship, and provide a platform for exchange of ideas to address modern challenges at the grassroots.

Speaking for participants, the Traditional Ruler of Ọrọ-Ibere Autonomous Community, Eze Dr. Stanley Ijenwa, commended Governor Otti for the initiative. He described the workshop as timely and urged that it be sustained, assuring that traditional rulers will implement the lessons learnt to enhance peace and security in their domains.

The zonal workshop is the first in the series scheduled for the three senatorial zones in the state and featured paper presentations by resource persons.

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 Abia State Government has unveiled plans to transform key markets in Umuahia, including the Ogwumabiri Market at Ossah, through comprehensive renovation and, where necessary, relocation to more suitable sites, as part of a wider urban renewal programme aimed at boosting commerce, improving infrastructure and ensuring sustainable city development.

The Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, disclosed this while briefing journalists at the Government House, Umuahia, on the outcome of this week’s State Executive Council meeting chaired by Governor Alex Otti.
Kanu explained that the government is taking a holistic approach to modernising markets within the state capital to create a more conducive environment for traders and consumers while addressing planning and environmental concerns.

He also announced that the tendering process for the construction of the Pocket Estate Layout in Umuahia has been concluded, with the list of successful contractors expected to be released during the week.

On infrastructure, the Commissioner said the Ministry of Works is currently executing direct labour road projects at 46 locations across the state. He noted that three road maintenance projects have been completed, while two additional roads have been incorporated into the ministry’s maintenance programme.

According to him, the completed projects include the failed section of the Nkwoagu Junction–Nkwo Mbala Road in Umunneochi Local Government Area, the second phase of the Akara Junction–Ovim Bridge Road in Isuikwuato LGA, and the rehabilitation of Mazi Okoro Avenue in Obinkita, Arochukwu LGA.

He added that rainy season maintenance has commenced on the Opopo Junction–Azumini–Obehe Road, a federal highway linking the Enugu–Port Harcourt Expressway, as well as the access road to Obingwa General Hospital and the Obingwa Local Government Headquarters.
As part of measures to strengthen urban planning and public safety, Kanu announced that the state government has introduced mandatory soil and geotechnical testing as a prerequisite for obtaining building permits in Umuahia.

He said the policy is designed to improve structural integrity, prevent building collapse and safeguard lives and property by ensuring that every building is designed in accordance with the soil characteristics of its location.
The Commissioner further revealed that the Umuahia Capital Development Authority (UCDA) has intensified drainage desilting operations across flood-prone areas of the capital city to mitigate flooding and improve environmental sanitation.

Areas currently benefiting from the exercise include Adelabu Street, the drainage channel from Shoprite to Uwalaka Street, Asaba Street Junction, Ndume Otuka Road, Winners Church Ndume Road, Church of Christ axis and Finbarrs Road.
The latest decisions of the State Executive Council underscore the Otti administration’s commitment to modernising markets, expanding infrastructure, strengthening urban planning, improving road connectivity and building safer, more resilient communities across Abia State.