Abia State Governor, His Excellency, Dr. Alex Otti, OFR, has called on stakeholders in Aba and across the State to help protect the infrastructures being put in place by his administration and also help sustain the huge gains made by his government in keeping Aba clean.
Governor Otti made the call in his office on Tuesday 19th August, when he received in audience, the Executives of two business groups from Aba: the Association of International Traders (AIT) and Ultimate Importers Associations (UIA), led by their Presidents, Prince Edmund Igwe and Chief Iroegbu U. Agu, who came to thank him for recovering Aba from decades of ruins and transforming the infrastructural landscape, which has resulted in massive boom in their businesses.
While acknowledging their appreciation, the Governor noted that it is the duty of the Government to provide an enabling environment for hardworking people to thrive in their endeavors.
“Once you are hardworking and you are focused, the Government has a responsibility to provide the enabling environment for you to do your thing.
“Unfortunately, Aba was abandoned for several decades. So, it became a major item on our agenda to recover it. We have done two years and a few months now, and I am happy that we have been successful in that journey of recovering Aba. There is still a lot to do; we are not resting on our oars.
“You will agree with me that the job is not an entirely easy one. But we are not worried because we have people like you who would come back to show appreciation. Even if you didn’t come back to show appreciation, we can see it from the faces of people,” Governor Otti stated.
While reassuring that the government will continue to play its part in providing the enabling environment for their businesses to thrive, he called on them to support the government to protect public infrastructure against vandalism and theft, and to keep their surroundings clean.
“We also have a few requests to make. One of them is that all the infrastructures we are putting in place – all the roads we are building, all the drainage we have cleared, all the schools we are rehabilitating, all the hospitals we are fixing, they are all for all of you. So, we request that you protect them.
“You ensure that they are not vandalized. You ensure that nothing is stolen, including the streetlights that we are installing everywhere.
The Governor mentioned an ugly incident that happened at Omuma Road, Aba some hours ago, where someone went to vandalize and steal power cable but was electrocuted, frowning that “those kind of stories should not be heard in Abia State where somebody will go and steal cables so that the light we have restored would not be available for everybody.”
On the environment, the State’s Chief Executive said, “It’s also important that we learn to keep the environment clean. It should be a vigorous campaign in the whole of Aba. Today, if you move around, you won’t see those refuse dumps anymore. If we close our eyes, they will return, but they will not return under our watch.
“But then, it is important for all of us as stakeholders to preach it, let it become the new mantra, where you cannot, and would not be allowed to throw refuse anyhow. And, if you see anyone throwing refuse, you call the person and discipline him, and people will know that it is forbidden to do that,” Dr. Otti asserted.
The State’s Chief Executive disclosed that work has started on some of the roads in the inner parts of Aba, being executed by the Greater Aba Development Agency (GADA).
He thanked the businessmen and traders from Aba for appreciating the work his administration has done in Aba and commended them for paying their taxes. “I have always insisted that if you do the right thing, people will appreciate what you have done. Anytime that the Government has to deploy Agberos or extrajudicial measures to get people to pay taxes, that means that the Government is not doing what it is supposed to do,” he added.
Earlier in their address to the Governor, the leadership of the Association of International Traders (AIT) and Ultimate Importers Association, acknowledged and thanked the Governor for rebuilding the broken infrastructures and reopening of forgotten roads in Aba, cleaning of the environment, which were major signposts of the city before he emerged as Governor, and restoring security, etc.
“…Trucks and containers no longer fall on top of each other as was the case just two years back.
“In Aba, warehouses are no longer being broken into at will as was the case before you emerged as Executive Governor of Abia State. We cannot thank you enough, sir.”
In their vote of thanks, the PRO of the Association, Chief James Agbagha Ochunkwo, thanked the Governor for his infrastructural interventions never been witnessed in Abia. Chief Ochunkwo urged the Governor to continue on the trajectory as businesses are returning to the State.
The Governor was joined in the meeting by the Hon. Commissioner for Transport, Dr. Chimezie Ukaegbu, the Hon. Commissioner for Trade and Commerce, Mr. Chibueze Nwokocha, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Trade and Commerce, Chief Nwaka Inem, and the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Transport, Dr. Obioma Nwaogbe.
Ctz. UKOHA, NJOKU UKOHA
Chief Press Secretary to the Executive Governor of Abia State.
19-08-2025.
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