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Tag: ALEX OTTI

  • Otti Hails Home-State Posting as Game Changer for Policing

    Otti Hails Home-State Posting as Game Changer for Policing

    Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti, has commended the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, for directing that newly commissioned police officers be posted to their states of origin.

    The Governor describes the policy as a significant step towards strengthening community-based policing and internal security.

    Otti gave the commendation on Thursday in Nvosi, Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area, when 31 Abia-born officers of the 7th Regular Course of the Nigeria Police Academy paid him a courtesy visit.

    The governor noted that officers deployed to unfamiliar environments often encounter challenges such as language barriers, cultural differences and limited understanding of local terrain, which could affect effective policing.

    According to him, posting officers to their home states enhances familiarity with local languages, customs and security dynamics, thereby improving intelligence gathering, crime prevention and trust between the police and host communities.

    Otti observed that the policy mirrors a long-standing practice in the Nigerian Army, where personnel are routinely posted to formations within or near their states of origin, especially at early stages of their careers, to leverage local knowledge and strengthen civil-military relations.

    He said the army’s experience had shown that home-state deployment promotes discipline, accountability and cooperation with local populations, while reducing friction arising from cultural misunderstandings.

    The governor commended the Inspector-General and his management team for extending a similar principle to the Nigeria Police Force, noting that the initiative was capable of deepening community policing nationwide.

    He expressed satisfaction with the presence of the officers in Abia and acknowledged their requests for support, assuring them that the state government would explore ways to assist, as it had consistently done in the past.

    Otti congratulated the officers on their commissioning and prayed for their safety and success in the discharge of their duties.

    Also speaking, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr Monday Ubani, urged the officers to remain focused and uphold the highest standards of integrity, honour and professionalism.

    Ubani warned them against involvement in criminal or fraudulent activities and cautioned against turning policing into a transactional exercise where citizens are required to pay money before their complaints are addressed.

    According to him, policing should be anchored on justice, service and security, not financial inducement.

    Speaking on behalf of the officers, Assistant Superintendent of Police Somtochukwu Irozuru said Governor Otti’s leadership had restored public confidence and inspired young people to embrace service, integrity and sacrifice.

    Irozuru said the posting of the officers to their state of origin was aimed at strengthening community policing, describing it as the first time such a policy had been applied to newly commissioned police officers.

    He described the deployment as a privilege that would deepen their bond with the people and appealed to the Abia State Government for support in welfare needs, including accommodation, mobility and laptops, to enhance effective policing and career development.

    He thanked the governor for granting them audience despite his busy schedule and pledged the officers’ commitment to the peace, security and development of Abia State.

  • Abia Enacts Startup Law, Launches Electric Bus Project

    Abia Enacts Startup Law, Launches Electric Bus Project

    Even as states in Nigeria’s North grapple with existential security challenges, some southern states continue to push forward with strategic development initiatives.

    One such state is Abia, where Governor Alex Otti has assented to the Startup Bill passed by the House of Assembly, officially enacting it as the Abia State Startup Law, 2025.

    The Commissioner for Information, Mr. Okey Kanu, disclosed this on Monday while briefing journalists on the outcome of the State Executive Council meeting held in Umuahia.

    Kanu said the law was designed to domesticate and implement the Nigerian Startup Act, 2022 within Abia State.

    According to him, the legislation provides a framework to promote innovation, support technology-enabled startups, nurture digital talent, and position Abia as a hub for technology and innovation.

    “The law applies to companies with major operations in Abia and startups duly recognised and labelled under the national Act,” he said.

    The commissioner also announced plans to roll out a state-owned electric bus mass transit system under the Abia Transport Transformation Project.

    He said the first batch of 20 electric buses arrived in November, while another 20 are expected early next year. About 100 buses will be deployed in the first phase of the project.

    Kanu explained that the 40-seater buses, which are custom-built for Abia, can travel up to 400 kilometres on a single charge.

    He added that the buses are equipped with modern safety and comfort features, including surveillance cameras, charging ports, disability access, emergency exits and fire extinguishers.

    According to him, the initiative will position Abia at the forefront of clean and environmentally friendly mass transit in Nigeria.

    On long-term planning, Kanu disclosed that the Abia 25-Year Development Plan would be unveiled on Tuesday at the International Conference Centre, Umuahia. He said the event would attract development partners, advisory council members, local government chairmen, traditional rulers and other stakeholders.

    In the health sector, the commissioner said the Abia Global Medical Mission commenced on Monday and would run until December 20, 2025, offering free advanced medical services across designated centres in the state.

    He also announced that 850 youths would graduate from the second cohort of the Abia Techrise ICT Training Programme on Saturday, bringing the total number of beneficiaries trained under the programme in 2025 to 1,399.

    Kanu further said the Ministry of Works was carrying out direct labour interventions on major roads ahead of the yuletide.

    He urged residents to remain vigilant during the festive season and report suspicious activities to security agencies, noting that security agencies have been placed on full alert to protect lives and property across the state.

  • Abia Budgets N1.016 Trillion, Focus Education, Health, Roads in 2026

    Abia Budgets N1.016 Trillion, Focus Education, Health, Roads in 2026

    Umuahia, Abia State – Governor Alex Otti on Tuesday presented a N1.016 trillion Appropriation Bill for the 2026 fiscal year to the Abia State House of Assembly, describing it as the “Budget of Acceleration and New Possibilities.”

    The proposed budget represents a 13 per cent increase over the 2025 appropriation of N750.28 billion and is aimed at fast-tracking infrastructure expansion, enhancing social services, and deepening ongoing reforms across the state.

    Of the total outlay, N811.8 billion, or 80 per cent, is earmarked for capital projects, while recurrent expenditure accounts for N204.4 billion, representing 20 per cent of the budget.

    Compared with 2025, the capital vote increased by 32 per cent, and recurrent expenditure rose by 33 per cent to support daily operations and new personnel.

    Governor Otti highlighted allocations for key sectors, with education receiving N203.2 billion, including N150.4 billion for salaries of at least 15,000 teachers and new school infrastructure.

    Plans include constructing 17 model primary and secondary schools, three technical colleges, staff quarters, and over 100 ICT laboratories. Tertiary institutions will receive N52.8 billion for staff salaries and new facilities.

    The health sector is set to receive N149.7 billion, representing 15 per cent of the budget, for the acquisition of new equipment at Abia State University Teaching Hospital, Aba, 23 other facilities, and the renovation of seven general hospitals.

    Road construction and rehabilitation will take N169.3 billion, or 16.7 per cent of the budget, with priority given to the Umuahia-Ikot Ekpene, Ahiaeke-Okwuta-Bende, and Umuahia-Umueze-Agwu roads.

    The transport sector is allocated N11.1 billion, including N6 billion to fund 80 additional electric buses, complete transport terminals, and build bus shelters.

    Other allocations include over N229 billion for agriculture, entrepreneurship, youth development, sports, ICT, women’s empowerment, housing, environment, and urban renewal.

    Governor Otti projected the state’s internally generated revenue (IGR) to reach N223.4 billion in 2026, up from a target of about N100 billion in 2025.

    Recurrent expenses will be fully funded from IGR. Federal allocations are projected at N83.2 billion from FAAC, N67.1 billion from VAT, N26.5 billion from grants, and N168 billion from other federal sources, bringing total revenue to N607.2 billion.

    The governor indicated a budget deficit of N409 billion, or 40 per cent of the budget, which will be financed through concessionary loans strictly for capital projects. He stressed that loans would not be used to fund recurrent expenditure.

    Governor Otti urged the House to consider and pass the budget, emphasizing its importance in sustaining the state’s development trajectory.

    Responding, Speaker Emmanuel Emeruwa noted that the state had inherited a deep fiscal hole in 2023 but praised the administration for restoring stability.

    He said the 2026 budget reflects growing responsibilities and expanding development needs and commended the governor for prudent fiscal management.

    Emeruwa assured the governor that the House would thoroughly review the estimates and support initiatives that benefit the state.

  • 2027 Election: Labour Party and Others self-destruct

    2027 Election: Labour Party and Others self-destruct

    Apart from the New Nigeria Peoples Party, other leading players at the last election except the ruling All People’s Congress seem to be imploding, all as a result of frenzied moves ahead of the 2027 general elections.

     

    For instance, both the PDP and the Labour Party, the first and second runners up at the 2023 presidential election have been neck deep in internal wranglings for no specific reasons other than the machinations of greedy party members to self destruct in favour of an individual’s ambition to conquere power in 2027.

     

    In an apparent redundant move the Labour Party has revoked the automatic tickets previously reserved for its 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and the Governor of Abia State, Alex Otti, for the 2027 election.

     

    The decision was made during the party’s National Executive Council meeting held on Monday, September 9, in Abuja.

     

    Following the meeting, the party’s National Working Committee, led by Julius Abure, announced that all party tickets, from the presidency to the House of Assemblies, would now be open to all qualified Nigerians.

     

    In a communique signed by the National Chairman of the party, Abure, and National Secretary, Umar Ibrahim, the NEC nullified the decision taken at the stakeholders meeting convened by Otti.

     

    The NEC insisted that there was no vacuum in the leadership of the party after “conducting its National Convention in line with its constitution, the Electoral Act and Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on March 27, 2024.”