Governor Alex Otti of Abia State has politely declined a chieftaincy title offered to him by traditional rulers in the Ukwa East Local Government Area. Otti respectfully requested that the honour be postponed until after his tenure ends in 2031.
He explained that public officials should not accept such awards while still serving, emphasising his desire to remain focused on governance and accountability.
This singular act, according to some Nigerians, spoke volumes about the man steering Abia State’s transformation. 
Major Developments and Achievements Under Governor Alex Otti
This is not the first time Alex Otti has received praise from Abia residents and even Nigerians who do not live in the state. Since becoming governor of Abia in 2023, he has shown a strong commitment to his work and focused on delivering real results. His leadership reflects a clear focus on service and development; here are some of his most notable achievements.
1. Massive Road Construction and Rehabilitation
One of Otti’s most visible achievements is his reconstruction and rehabilitation of roads across Abia State.
- He has completed over 140 road projects in Umuahia, Aba, and several rural communities.
- His administration has also launched more than 200 kilometres of new road projects, improving connectivity and boosting economic activity.
- Some of the major projects include the reconstruction of Port Harcourt Road in Aba and the dualisation of Ossah Road in Umuahia.
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2. Restoration of Pension Payments and Workers’ Welfare
For years, previous administrations owed Abia workers and retirees months, and sometimes years, of salaries and pensions.
- On his first day in office, Otti committed to paying workers’ salaries on or before the 28th of every month, and he has kept that promise consistently.
- He has also taken steps to clear arrears owed to elected councillors from 1999 to 2023. Reports show that more than 80 councillors died in poverty while waiting for benefits they never received.
- His administration has also implemented the new minimum wage and improved overall welfare for workers.
3. Improved Electricity Supply Through the Aba Power Project
Aba is Nigeria’s foremost industrial hub, and for decades, its factories and workshops were strangled by power failures. Otti moved to change that, and in February 2024, he launched the 141-megawatt Geometric Power Plant.
In December 2025, the government restored electricity to 33 communities in Ukwa West that had experienced blackouts for over nine years. During a visit to Ukwa East in early 2026, Otti announced plans to restore power to Ndoki land, which had been without electricity for more than two decades.
4. Healthcare Sector Transformation
- Over 200 primary healthcare centres have been renovated, with many already operational.
- His administration restored accreditation for the Abia State University Teaching Hospital (ABSUTH), which had lost it under the previous government.
- Otti also cleared health workers’ salary arrears and commissioned the Nchedo Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) in February 2026 as part of efforts to combat gender-based violence.
5. Education Reforms and Teacher Recruitment
- He launched a reconstruction programme for 170 primary schools and 51 secondary schools.
- Over 500 new classrooms were built and more than 200 schools rehabilitated, improving access to education.
- He recruited over 2,000 teachers, raised the retirement age for teachers to 65, declared education free and compulsory, and established the Abia Leadership Academy and the TechRise Programme.
Governor Otti has also prioritised rebuilding Abia’s economy by establishing the Aba Industrial Innovation Park to attract manufacturing, create jobs, and encourage investment. Little wonder his constituents fondly call him “Chioma Nde Abia,” a phrase in Igbo that means “The Goodness of Abia People.”
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