Nation
Gov Otti commends FG for establishment of airport in Abia
Abia State governor, Dr. Alex Otti has used the occasion of his December, 2024 Media chat, tagged, “Governor Otti speaks to Abians,” to pay commend the Federal Government of Nigeria for allowing the state government to partner with it on the proposed Abia Airport.
Speaking at the Government House, Umuahia, Friday night, Gov. Otti hinted that he will, in company of the Federal Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, flag- off the proposed Abia Airport project located at Nsulu, Isiala Ngwa North LGA of the State.
Governor Otti explained that the federal government intended to build an airstrip, but with the intervention of the state government, the airstrip was converted to a full fledged Airport.
“We had reasoned that the difference between an airport and airstrip is the runway.This unique partnership will lead to the construction of the requisite runways that would land bigger aircrafts when finished,” he said.
According to the governor, Abia is providing the land and other logistic support, as required by the federal government for the smooth take-off and execution of the project.
On the controversy that had trailed the permanent siting of the airport, Gov Otti further explained that the airport will be sited at a location between Aba and Umuahia, saying that the former choice of location by previous administrations of the state was rejected by experts as the area had been fully built up.
“Any location of an Airport there will displace many residents of their homes and business people of structures, pointing out that payment of compensations, before the take-off of the project, would have been very heavy,” he said.
“I see a few people make comments without sufficient information. The first time I spoke about Abia Airport, I made it clear that it is a federal government’s project,
“What we have come to do is to provide land and also provide the logistic supports and the airport is constructed to standard.
“ The State Government has engaged the people of Nsulu clan in Isialangwa North LGA and secured their support for government to go ahead with the proposed siting of Abia Airport in their community. Government had already engaged the traditional rulers in the clan before now but decided to further engage the people to ensure they understand its intentions. As soon as the requisite size of the project is acquired, enumeration done, compensations will be paid to land donors, host communities and not to any politicians”.
On the achievements of the state on the Health sector, Otti disclosed that the state has won a prize of $400, 000 from UNICEF on the implementation of its Primary Healthcare programme, tagged “Leadership Challenge”.
According to the governor, a lot has been done in the health sector, including the 200 Primary Healthcare centres (PHCs) currently undergoing retrofitting with a target of using 100 days to rehabilitate 200 PHCs spread across the 184 wards of the state. He said progress is made on the proposed medical village, details of which would be disclosed by the first quarter of next year.
Said he: “Our dear state came second in the South East and won a prize money of $400, 000. This is not the first time we are winning that prize. Last year we also came second. We are hoping that, next year we will make it to the first position.
“We believe it is still early days, by the time we complete all these projects that we have on hand, I think the story will be different.
On security, Governor Otti said the security architecture of the state is being rejigged to nip insecurity in the bud completely, considering the new trend of crime in some parts of the state. He assured Abians coming home for the yuletide of adequate security.
“We have decided to rejig the security architecture. We are doing everything possible to ensure that our state is safe and particularly at this time
“I would like people to know that the government is not going to rest on its oars until we rid this place any criminal activity, be it in the rural or urban areas.
“I would also encourage our brothers and sisters in diaspora who have given indication that they were going to come, to continue because we have made adequate arrangements to protect everyone in the state, particularly in this time” Otti stated.
On the state 2025 budget estimate of N750.3bn he presented to Abia House of Assembly on Tuesday, Otti reiterated that about 82 percent of the budget is for capital expenditure while about 18 percent would go on recurrent expenditure.
He dismissed the insinuations that the budget was on the high side and explained why it is so.
“Some people have made comments about the size of the budget. When you look at the size in absolute terms, it would look high, but if the budget size with over 30 percent inflation and exchange rate depreciation, then the difference is not even as much as it looks,” he said.
“The important thing is that every budget is an aspiration. It is aspiration that is founded on logic.”
“Budgets entrusted become the budget realistic and at the end of the day you would have implemented it. It is all about planning.”
Responding to questions on the report that some Permanent Secretaries and other civil servants earlier retired as a result of government ‘s policy, were yet to get their entitlements, the governor said he has directed the Accountant General of the state to address the issue, assuring that all concerned would get what is due them.
Also, on the alleged extortion of commuters around the Nunya -Isuikwuato junction of the Enugu-Port Harcourt Express- way, the governor directed his Chief Security Officer to immediately investigate and report the matter to him for necessary action.
On Education, the governor said his administration has commenced the implementation of the recommendation of the White Paper report on the visitation panel to Abia state University, Uturu, ABSU, and has also started renovations and making great impact on Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu Polytechnic, Aba as well as Abia state College of Education, Arochukwu, ASCETA ; while a lot work has been done and is still ongoing at basic education sub sector.
On Agriculture, the governor said he is engaging with relevant stakeholders to disentangle and revive moribund farm settlements that were privately commissioned by previous administration, disclosing that a private company is about investing about 120 million Dollars in the Palm oil value chain of the state.
