For years, the story told about Abia was one of missed opportunities. “Arrears of Salaries, No Pensions, and No Leave Allowances & Gratuities”, “IGR Channeled Into Private Pockets”, “Kinetic Projects On Billboards”, “Expenditures Retired On Bogus Overheads.” The old story just got fact-checked and invalidated.
According to the 2026 BudGIT Report and the Phillips Consulting State Performance Index currently released, Abia is no longer the punchline. The State is now the case study. Here’s what the data says:
The Numbers That Matter;
- 2nd Nationally in Aggregate Revenue Growth
- 3rd Nationally in IGR Growth
- 3rd Fastest Improving State Nationally
- 1st Nationally in Capital Expenditure Growth
- Ist Nationally in Personal Expenditure Growth
- And crucially: Overhead costs kept comparatively low.
What is the Translation of the above numbers? Abia is making more money from IGR, spending more of it on projects, paying workers better, and using less in running government. That is the exact opposite of how Abia was governed for 24 years.
So, What is Governor Otti Doing Differently? The opposition will call it “Ndi New Abia”. The data calls it discipline.
- Revenue: From Begging to Building – Moving to 2nd in aggregate revenue and 3rd in IGR didn’t happen by accident. It’s the Port Harcourt Road and Ohanku Road effect. It’s the State’s clean-up effect. It’s the effect of creating access and making movement seamless across the State. It’s businesses trusting that if they pay tax, they will see tar. When traders and SMEs see value for money, they pay willingly. That’s IGR growth.
- Spending: From Consumption to Construction – Ranking 1st in Capital Expenditure Growth means this government is building roads in Abia South, North and Central, Schools, Healthcare centres, Light Up Abia. That’s why you feel the difference when you drive into Aba and Umuahia at night.
Ranking 1st in Personnel Expenditure also means workers are being paid and pensions are being cleared. Dignity is being restored. Governor Otti’s administration is doing this while keeping overhead low. Less money for sirens, fun-fares and frivolities, more money for concrete.
- Service Delivery: From Promises to Proof – You can’t fake capital expenditure. Either the road is tarred or it isn’t. Either the hospital has equipment or it doesn’t. The Phillips Index is not a government report. It’s an independent scorecard. And it says Abia is delivering.
In the camp of the diminished cynical opposition, the same voices that said “nothing will change” are now the loudest – but cynicism is the last refuge of those who have no ideas.
Their criticism now follows a pattern:
- From Governor Otti has not done anything to “It’s all in Abia North” after the endorsement of the Governor by fellow Abians of Ngwa extraction living in United States of America – the pettiness was elevated to “show me one project in Isialangwa, Obingwa, Osisioma and Ugwunagbo (Just one Pit Toilet)”, discountenancing Aba as a cosmopolitan city in a bid to diminish the turn-around of the city. Since they have finally admitted that Aba North, South and the entire Abia North have been transformed but nothing to show across “Ala Ngwa”, not even a pit toilet. Let me make the blind to see as my first miracle. Come with me;
Isialangwa North & South LGA:
- Umuene Ultra Modern Court Complex in Isialangwa South LGA.
- Omoba Central Model School (1 & 2) in Isialangwa South LGA including other rebuilt public schools both completed and ongoing.
- Cottage Hospital, Umuihie in Isialangwa South LGA.
- Umuikama-Okpuala Nvosi Road in Isialangwa South LGA
- Isieketa – Obikabia Road
- Alaukwu Ward Primary Healthcare Centre, Owerrinta PHC, Umuokoroukwu Alaoma PHC and other over 13 PHCs across Isialangwa South LGA all renovated, modernized, equipped, staffed and functionalized.
- Umuikaa – Owerrinta Road reconstruction and expansion (Ongoing)
- Umuikaa – Umuene Road reconstruction and expansion (Ongoing).
- Umuomaikwu Smart School in Isialangwa North LGA including other public schools across the LGA both completed and ongoing.
- Ntigha-Nbawsi-Umuala Road.
- Umunkpeyi-Okpokiri-Umuehim Road.
- Amano Nsulu Health Centre including other 14 PHCs across various wards in Isialangwa North LGA.
- Abia Airport Project (The State acquired the land and paid compensation and currently constructing the runway while awaiting the Federal Government’s commitment in the project)
- Acquisition of Star Paper Mill – Owerrinta and Osisioma
Osisioma LGA:
- Umule Road
- Umuocham Road
- MCC Road
- Aro Amano – Eke Aro Road
- Adaelu Road
- Geometric Road
- Afule Road
- Umuimo Road
- Udeagbala Road
- Nwogu – Ajagba Street
- Kingdom Hall Street
- Assemblies of God Church street
- University Road
- College Road
- Green Avenue
- Umuimo underground Tunnel
- Bakassi Road
- Ekeakpara Road
- Umuadura Road (1st phase Aba Ring Road) – Ongoing
- Osisioma Bus Terminal (Ongoing)
- Ogbonnaya Onu Polytechnic Permanent Site (Ongoing Development)
- Acquisition of Afro Beverages
Obingwa LGA:
- 80 bed Chima Ubani Memorial Hospital (Formerly Obingwa General Hospital) – The first digital hospital in the whole of Abia State.
- Ohanze – Ntighauzo- Obete – Umuoha – Oberete – Amorim’s Obu Road
- Umuagu – Ohuru – Amaisii – Osaa Ukwu – Itungwa Road
- Nkwo Elechi Road
- Umueme Road
- Mgboko-Amaise – Amairi-Ahiaba Ubi-Nkwoelechi – Omoba Road
- Ibeme MDG Primary Healthcare Centre, Obingwa LGA including other 17 renovated, equipped, retrofitted and functionalized PHCs across Obingwa LGA.
Ugwunagbo LGA:
- Abayi Ehimiri Drainage Project: 11km underground storm water tunnel.
- Abayi Nchokoro Primary School, Owerriaba – Ugwunagbo LGA and other rebuilt public schools both completed and ongoing.
- Power supply, Mini-grid installation, building of staff quarters and functionalisation of the the SDG multi-purpose hospital in Ugwunagbo LGad
- Umuaja PHC and Ugwunagbo Primary Healthcare Centre including other 12 primary healthcare centres renovated, equipped and functionalized in the wards across Ugwunagbo LGA.
- The question should not be “Where are the Projects?”, except for the blind and deaf. It should rather be, “Where is the money coming from?” – The Phillips Report just answered: IGR and better fiscal management. Abia is earning more from IGR and borrowing less. Growth in revenue, capital projects, and personnel welfare is called a foundation. You don’t build a New Abia in one year. You build it project by project, budget by budget. Abians have gone beyond petty clannishness. People can see the transformation. A mother in Osisioma whose child is delivered in a renovated, equipped and functionalized health centre does not care what LGA the contractor is from. A trader in Ariaria who can now do business till 9pm because of Light Up Abia initiative does not care about political noise from Scotland.
THE BOTTOM LINE: Rankings don’t govern. But rankings reflect governance. To go from bottom to 1st in capital spending in 3 years means priorities have changed. To go to 3rd in IGR means confidence has returned. To keep overhead low while increasing personnel pay means this government is cutting waste, not corners. Governor Alex Otti’s agenda is simple: Development for Abia. Welfare for Abians.
The Philips Consulting latest numbers are independent confirmation that Abia is working. The roads, schools, healthcare facilities, lights, prompt payment of salaries and pensions prove it is real. And for those still living in the politics of yesterday, the New Abia has moved on.
By Ctz. UKOHA, NJOKU UKOHA
