Otti directs remediation of erosion, flooding sites in Abia

Gov. Alex Otti of Abia has directed the immediate remediation of erosion and flooding sites reported across the state.

Otti gave the directive, on Thursday night, during a monthly media chat with journalists, in Umuahia.

“A lot of incidents of erosion and flooding have been reported in different parts of the state; I think there are 15 reports in recent times.

“We have already instructed the Commissioner for Environment to engage and ensure remediation as quickly as possible,” he said.

On healthcare, Otti said that Abia ranked first in healthcare affordability and third in healthcare quality among the 36 states in the 2026 Philips Consulting State Performance Index.

He said that the state had also commenced the recruitment of an additional 1,000 healthcare professionals, in addition to the 821 earlier approved.

According to him, the recruitment became necessary because of the poaching of Nigerian healthcare professionals by other countries of the world.

“You have Canada, India, the US, UK and other parts of the world competing in the same space with us.

“So, sometimes you hire some people today, tomorrow they move to other countries. So, you must keep your hiring process open,” he said.

The governor said that the recently inaugurated Chima Ubani Memorial Hospital in Mgboko, formerly Obingwa General Hospital, was an 80-bed facility digitally linked to surrounding primary healthcare centres.

He said that the hospital was equipped with tele-health technology, modern medical equipment, renewable energy and water supply infrastructure.

Otti said that the facility also has an eye centre, adding that the objective was to ensure it provides all the services expected in a secondary healthcare facility.

He said that 151 of the 200 primary healthcare centres renovated and retrofitted by the state government had been functionalised, leaving 49 to be completed.

The governor added that 77 other primary healthcare centres had been retrofitted and rebuilt through the World Bank, bringing the total number to 277.

He expressed optimism that all the centres would be functionalised before the end of the year.

Otti also said that about 270,000 Abia residents had enrolled in the state health insurance scheme, compared to about 40,000 previously.

“In Abia State University, the process for leadership transition has started, given that the tenure of the Acting Vice-Chancellor would expire October ending.

“So, from Nov. 1, a substantive and new Vice-Chancellor will take over the University,” he said.

Otti said that the recruitment process commenced following the publication of advertisements for the position.

He also said that government had embarked on massive infrastructure upgrades in its tertiary institutions, including Abia State University, Ogbonnaya Onu Polytechnic, Aba and Abia State College of Education (Technical), Arochukwu.

According to him, the projects include   upgrades of the libraries, faculty buildings, hostels and fencing.

The governor said that staff welfare remained a priority, adding that new salary structures had been implemented in some institutions while others were undergoing implementation.

He said that the implementation of the new salary structure could cause a one- or two-day delay in the payment of some workers’ salaries.

“Everything about pay will be completed by this weekend, and I have given that instruction,” he said.

Otti said that the state government had successfully engaged 4,074 additional teachers to fill gaps identified after the recruitment of 5,394 teachers.

He said that the new teachers were being employed and would undergo training before deployment to their places of engagement.

The governor said that the recruitment was targeted at specific locations and subjects where there were shortages.

On social protection, Otti said that the he government had spent more than N500 million in August supporting vulnerable residents and footing their hospital bills for kidney and other organ transplants.

He said his administration had also completed payment of outstanding gratuities to retirees from 2001 to 2010 and was preparing to address the remaining years based on available resources.

Otti said that the outstanding gratuity liability inherited by the administration was more than N60 billion.

He also said the state had rolled out the Contributory Pension Scheme for more than 36,000 workers, describing it as a mechanism that would make pension and gratuity payments seamless.

On youth empowerment, the governor said that 850 TechRise graduates had been added to the 1,200 previously trained, bringing the number of graduates to about 2,200 within 18 months.

He said the latest batch of graduates had produced a drone and other inventions, adding that he had directed the Commissioner for Science, Technology and Innovation to explore commercialisation of their products.

Otti said that 1,086 young people would also graduate from the Abia State Leadership Academy this Saturday.

On land administration, the governor said Abia had issued more than 965 digital Certificates of Occupancy within three years, while more than five million land records had been digitised.

He said that applicants could obtain their Certificates of Occupancy within 30 days through the Ministry of Lands.

On transport, Otti said that work at the Aba Bus Terminal was being intensified, with plans to inaugurate the facility before the end of the year.

He said that 20 electric buses had already been deployed, while 30 additional buses were expected after the state made the required advance payment.

The governor also said the state government continued deploying renewable energy solutions in different parts of Abia.

On heritage development, Otti said that government received officials of the National Park Commission and directed relevant authorities to work with them toward establishing a national park in the state.

He, however, said Abia Government had taken note of objections raised by informed Abia residents concerning the proposal.

“One thing you will be rest assured is that whatever we do will be in the best interest of the state,” Otti said.