Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, OFR, has disclosed plans to relocate the Abia State Ministry of Agriculture from its current headquarters at Bank Road, Umuahia to a more conducive location in Umudike. The move, according to the Governor, is aimed at boosting productivity and creating a better working environment for the ministry’s staff.
Governor Otti made this announcement on September 23, 2025, during an unscheduled visit to the ministry’s headquarters in Umuahia. The visit came shortly after the swearing-in of two new Commissioners and a Special Adviser on Agriculture, as part of a minor cabinet reshuffle.
During the inspection, Governor Otti was accompanied by the Commissioner for Lands, Hon. Chaka Chukwumerije, and the Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Cliff Agbaeze. The Governor expressed his dissatisfaction with the current state of the ministry’s facilities and assured staff that a relocation plan was already underway.
He revealed that Umudike, home to the Abia State University Faculty of Agriculture, has been earmarked as the ministry’s new base. In the same breath, the Governor noted that the Faculty of Law would be moved back to the permanent site of Abia State University in Uturu, signaling a broader restructuring initiative.
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Governor Otti directed the Commissioner for Agriculture to immediately assess the new location and commence relocation preparations. The ministry’s staff reportedly welcomed the news with excitement and expressed their appreciation for the Governor’s surprise visit and commitment to improving their work environment.
This relocation is seen as part of Dr. Otti’s drive to transform the agricultural sector in Abia State, making it more efficient and capable of contributing to food production not just within the state, but across Nigeria.