Protect Our Legacy : Governor Otti Commissions Projects

Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has called on Abians to take ownership of the infrastructural and healthcare projects being delivered by his administration and ensure they are protected from vandalism.

The Governor made the appeal during a grand commissioning ceremony held at Ibeku High School field, after unveiling several completed projects across three local government areas in the Abia Central Senatorial Zone.

The projects include the retrofitting of Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) at Owerrinta in Isiala Ngwa South, Amibo in Umuahia South, and Ekeoba in Umuahia North, under the administration’s Project Ekwueme initiative.

Also commissioned were the newly reconstructed 8.3km Isieketa–Obikabia Road in Isiala Ngwa South and the 1.5km IBB Way in Umuahia North.

Governor Otti, addressing the cheering crowd, urged residents to serve as custodians of the new facilities, stressing the importance of community-driven security.

“Ensure that everything we are putting in place—the infrastructure, the roads, the equipment in those healthcare centres i s secured. There is no security better than the one you provide yourselves,” the Governor said.

“Anytime anybody attempts to vandalise public property, report them to the appropriate authorities. And I assure you, we will deal decisively with such individuals.”

In a significant announcement, Governor Otti directed the Commissioner for Works to immediately begin work on the dilapidated Ikot-Ekpene Federal Road, which connects with the newly completed IBB Way.

“Yes, it’s a Federal Road. But the Federal Government doesn’t use any road. It is Abia people who do. So, whether Federal or State, we will fix it,” Otti affirmed.

Reiterating his administration’s commitment to health and infrastructure, the Governor revealed that the commissioning of roads and PHCs will continue, noting that 200 centres have already been retrofitted or are nearing completion.

Commissioners for Health and Works, Prof. Enoch Ogbonnaya Uche and Engr. Otumchere Oti, commended the Governor’s vision and determination to uplift rural health and infrastructure. They encouraged communities to safeguard the benefits by ensuring proper maintenance and security.

Also speaking, Dr. Kingsley Nwaigburu, General Manager of the Abia State Debt Management Office and Project Ekwueme Coordinator for Abia Central, disclosed that 64 PHCs have been retrofitted within the zone alone, calling the initiative “real, visible, and impactful.”

In an emotional speech, the Traditional Ruler of Ekeoba Kingdom, Ohuhu, Eze Ambassador Iheanyichukwu Nwokenna, described the development as a “new dawn” for Abia.

“No administration in the past has taken such a bold step. Governor Otti has given our people a true sense of belonging,” the royal father said.

The commissioning ceremony, which featured cultural displays and presentations from grateful communities, was graced by dignitaries, including the Chinese Consul-General to Nigeria, Ms. Yan Yuqing, who joined the Governor in celebrating what many hailed as a major step forward in grassroots development.