Abia State Governor Alex Otti has announced the settlement of N72 billion from the N138 billion debt inherited from previous administrations, while revealing transformative projects set for inauguration before May 29.
Debt Management & Fiscal Prudence
During his monthly media briefing at Government House, Otti disclosed:
✔ Debt Reduction: Cleared N72bn (52% of verified DMO debt) without new borrowings
✔ Hidden Liabilities: Estimated actual inherited debt exceeds DMO figures due to unpaid salaries, pensions, and contractor debts
✔ Financial Strategy: Credited repayment to “prudent management and strategic deal-making”
Healthcare Revolution
The governor highlighted major health sector developments:
• Project Ekwueme: 103 of 200 state-funded primary health centers at 70% completion
• Medical City: 1.3bninvestmentsecuredforfacilityaimingtorecapture101.3bninvestmentsecuredforfacilityaimingtorecapture102bn medical tourism spend
• Workforce Boost: 771 new health personnel recruited with improved compensation
Education & Infrastructure Milestones
• School Enrollment: 700,000 children now benefit from free basic education policy
• Teacher Recruitment: 9,000 educators being hired to improve student-teacher ratios
• Port Harcourt Road: Julius Berger project to be completed mid-May for May 29 inauguration
Otti cautioned media against misreporting while reaffirming his administration’s anti-corruption stance: “This government wastes no kobo of Abia money.”
The Medical City project involves a PPP with international healthcare investors, positioning Abia as West Africa’s emerging medical tourism hub.
