Abia State governor, Alex Otti, says his administration has constructed 414 roads spanning about 864 kilometres and slashed the state’s debt burden by roughly 60 per cent within three years in office.

Speaking during his monthly media chat, “Governor Alex Otti Speaks to Abians,” in Umuahia, the governor said the new roads are equipped with street lights and drainage systems, adding that another 82 roads, measuring about 212 kilometres, are currently under construction at various stages of completion.

Otti linked the infrastructure push to what he described as a disciplined fiscal regime. He said Abia’s debt profile had dropped from about ₦191 billion in 2023 to less than ₦50 billion, insisting that the state’s finances are now on a more sustainable footing.

He cited independent assessments to back his claims, noting that Abia’s ranking in the Budget State of the States report improved from 17th position in 2023 to 4th place in 2025, driven by what he called greater transparency, accountability and fiscal responsibility.

The governor disclosed that his team has identified assets allegedly acquired illegally by past officials as part of a broader clean-up of public finances and governance structures.

On environmental management, Otti said the state now evacuates about 13 tonnes of refuse weekly and has created more than 2,000 jobs through the Abia State Environmental Agency.

He highlighted reforms in the transport sector, including the introduction of electric buses and the installation of charging stations in Umuahia and Aba. A new bus terminal in Umuahia, he added, is set for inauguration, with more electric buses expected to join the fleet.

Otti also pointed to sweeping changes in land administration. He said 4,707 Certificates of Occupancy have been signed, a figure he claimed exceeds the total issued between 1999 and 2023. The state has completed a new master plan in partnership with UN-Habitat and digitised about four million land documents.

In education and health, he listed the construction of smart schools, recruitment of teachers and upgrades in tertiary institutions. He said 821 healthcare workers have been hired, 93,000 residents enrolled in health insurance, and 277 primary healthcare centres retrofitted, with 121 fully functional. General hospitals and teaching facilities across the state are also undergoing major reconstruction.

Otti framed the reforms as part of a broader effort to restore “the dignity of our people” through infrastructure renewal, human capital development and social justice.