Abia anniversary: Otti charges MDAs to address lapses, reviews sectoral performance

From Peter Okore, Umuahia

Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has urged Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in the state to intensify efforts in areas where government performance has not met expectations, as the administration marked its third anniversary with a Special Executive Council (EXCO) meeting.

The meeting, held on Monday in Umuahia, brought together various MDAs, with officials presenting scorecards of their activities in line with their mandates and the governor’s development blueprint.

Speaking at the session, Otti expressed gratitude to God for the milestones recorded in the past three years across key sectors, including health, road infrastructure, education, power, public utilities, and technology.

He commended members of the State Executive Council for aligning with his administration’s vision but cautioned that they must not relent in their efforts.

“We must ensure that any area where government has not measured up as expected is given adequate attention,” the governor said.

During the presentations, commissioners and heads of agencies outlined their achievements across sectors.

The Commissioner for Health, Prof. Enoch Ogbonnaya Uche, highlighted reforms in the health sector, noting upgrades across major health institutions, including the Abia State University Teaching Hospital, the Abia State Specialist Hospital, and ongoing upgrades of Amachara General Hospital and Umunnato General Hospital into specialist facilities.

He also referenced the ongoing reconstruction of seven general hospitals across the state, rehabilitation of cottage hospitals in Aba, Umuahia, and Nkporo, as well as the retrofitting of primary healthcare centres in the 184 electoral wards.

In the education sector, the Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Prof. Uche Eme Uche, said the administration met a weakened tertiary education system marked by unpaid salaries and lost accreditation in institutions such as ABSU, ASCETA, and Ogbonnaya Onu Polytechnic.

She said significant progress had been made in restoring stability, particularly through infrastructural upgrades, improved welfare, and academic reforms. She also disclosed the introduction of a sports fiesta for tertiary institutions and ongoing relocation of Ogbonnaya Onu Polytechnic to its permanent site at Osisioma, with student enrolment rising from about 3,000 to 15,000.

The Commissioner for Works, Engr. Otumchere Oti, highlighted major infrastructure projects undertaken by the administration, including the Port Harcourt Road in Aba, the Omenuko Bridge, and the expanded six-lane Aguiyi Ironsi Boulevard.

He disclosed that 414 roads had been completed by the ministry, the Greater Aba Development Authority (GADA), and the Greater Ohafia Development Authority (GODA), through both direct labour and contract execution, improving connectivity and the movement of goods and services across the state.

In the Lands and Public Buildings sector, Commissioner Chaka Chukwumerije said the government had undertaken reforms aimed at digitising land administration processes, improving efficiency and transparency, and reducing processing timelines.

He noted ongoing land recovery efforts, new layout developments, and the acquisition of about 1,026 hectares of land for the proposed Abia Airport project. He also stated that Certificates of Occupancy (C-of-O) are now being issued within 30 days.

For Power and Public Utilities, Commissioner Engr. Ikechukwu Monday said the government had restored electricity to over 100 communities in Ukwa, settled accumulated electricity debts owed by previous administrations in MDAs, and restored power supply to more than 32 MDAs.

He also disclosed the establishment of the Abia State Electricity Regulatory Authority (ASERA) and the issuance of licences to power operators to deepen electricity market reforms in the state.

In their remarks, the Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, and the Principal Secretary to the Governor and Chief Strategy Officer, Mr. Chinenye Mba-Uzukwu, commended the progress recorded under the Otti administration.

They noted that reforms in soft infrastructure and governance processes had significantly changed the state’s narrative, adding that there was growing public confidence and widespread approval of government performance.