Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has disclosed that discussions are ongoing among South-East states and some neighbouring South-South states on the development of a regional railway network aimed at improving transportation, trade and economic integration.
Speaking during the July edition of his monthly media chat in Umuahia on Thursday, Otti said the proposed rail project would connect major cities, including Port Harcourt, Aba, Enugu, parts of Imo State and Akwa Ibom.
The governor revealed that his administration had initially planned a light rail system within Abia and had engaged a Chinese company to design the project. However, the plan was later put on hold after the government concluded that a broader regional network would deliver greater economic benefits.
“We had engaged a Chinese company to design a light rail network for the state, but after careful consideration, we realised that connecting only parts of Abia without linking neighbouring states would not be the best option,” he said.
According to Otti, the regional initiative is being developed jointly by South-East states and some South-South states to create a more integrated transportation system.
He explained that the existing Port Harcourt–Maiduguri railway, which passes through Aba, provides an opportunity to connect the proposed regional network with the Federal Government’s rail infrastructure, making the project more sustainable and cost-effective.
The governor said this consideration accounted for the delay in executing the state’s earlier light rail proposal.
On reports that South-East governors had endorsed President Bola Tinubu for a second term in office, Otti distanced himself from the claim, stressing that no governor could speak on behalf of others.
“I am not sure I heard that, but if Governor Hope Uzodimma made such a statement, he has every right to express his personal opinion as a governor and as an individual. He cannot speak for everybody. I think it is still too early to begin discussions about the 2027 election,” he said.
The Labour Party governor maintained that President Tinubu, like every other eligible Nigerian, has the constitutional right to seek re-election, adding that the electorate would ultimately decide the outcome of the next general election.
“He has the right to seek a second term, just as others who wish to contest have the same right. At the end of the day, it is the ballot box that will determine what happens, including in this state,” Otti added.
The governor also announced that the state government had acquired an additional 20 electric buses to strengthen public transportation, noting that they would be deployed in the coming weeks.
He further disclosed plans to develop new housing estates in Umuahia and Aba as part of efforts to address housing needs and improve urban development.
Otti reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to investing in key sectors, including education, security, infrastructure, science and technology, innovation, as well as arts and culture, to accelerate the state’s development.