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.

Abia State Governor, His Excellency, Dr Alex Otti, OFR, has expressed his readiness to partner with the members of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers in the development of the State.

Governor Otti stated this in Government House Umuahia, while receiving in audience, a delegation of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers, led by its President and Chairman of the Council, ESV. Chief Victor Adekunle Alonge, who were in the State for their 2026 annual conference taking place at the International Conference Centre, Ogurube layout, Umuahia.

Gov. Otti said that his government considers itself as partners to institutions that share similar visions with it.

“We consider ourselves partners to institutions and people who have the same vision and who share our aspiration for a better place for our people.

“We have worked closely with members of this institution in Abia State and I think we will even redouble that effort.

“There are a lot of things we are doing in the real estate side that will require your involvement and that of your members.

“I think this offers us an opportunity to close ranks and work closer with each other,” Gov. Otti stated.

Governor Otti thanked the institution for its choice to hold this year’s conference and annual general meeting of Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers for the first time in Abia State.

The Governor assured that members of his cabinet would be on hand to support the association.

“I would instruct my commissioners who are here to work very closely with you.

“I want to also say that our people are on hand to give you all the necessary support that you require,” Gov. Otti assured.

Governor Otti, who used the opportunity to reiterate his commitment to establishing a 5-Star Hotel in Umuahia to provide more comfortable accommodation to visitors and associations that choose Abia for conferences wished the the members of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers fruitful deliberations in their annual conference taking place in Umuahia.

Earlier in his speech, the President and Chairman of Council, Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers, Dr Victor Alonge disclosed that they are in the State for the 2026 annual conference of the institution holding in Umuahia with the theme “Corridors, Connectivity and Capital; Rethinking Real Estate Development Along Renewed Hope Infrastructure Investments”, between Monday 13th to Saturday 18th April, at the International Conference Centre, Umuahia.

He revealed that this is the first time Abia is hosting the annual conference and expressed delight that it’s happening under Governor Otti.

Chief Alonge who said that Abia is noted for its huge contributions to the development of the Institution, thanked Governor Otti for the financial and logistics support to the institution in the State and for the good working relationship between members of the institution and the State government.

“I also would like to appreciate Your Excellency for the good working relationship between the members of our profession in Abia State and the State government.

“We would continue to offer the State our professional services in the best global practices, upholding our well articulated and documented code of professional ethics,” Chief Alonge stated.

He said that their members have progressively impacted the State in the areas of policy formulation, Land Administration, Asset Management and Administration, Housing and Project development in general.

He further stated that the Governor’s transformation drives and sound policies have opened up the State to local and foreign investments which he noted has significantly strengthened the economy of the State.

The Deputy Governor, Engr. Ikechukwu Emetu, Commissioners for Housing, Land & Survey as well Agriculture, DG GODA and UCDA among other top government officials were present at the visit.