NO PART OF THE STATE IS LEFT BEHIND – Gov. Otti

Being the Text of a Speech Delivered by Governor Alex C. Otti, OFR, at the flag-off of the Construction of Sections 1 and 2 of the 13 kilometre Onuinyang–Okporoenyi–Oboro–Ikwuano Road on Thursday, January 30, 2025, at Central School Okporoenyi, Bende LGA

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1. 2025 will mark a turning point for millions of Ndi Abia across the 17 LGAs and in all the 184 wards spread across over 500 different communities in the State. We made a commitment at the inception of this Administration that not a single community in Abia shall be neglected in our determined push to revive the levers of our economy and create an environment that supports the dreams and aspirations of our hardworking population. We have gathered this afternoon to witness yet another demonstration of our fidelity to the covenant that binds us to the people.
2. Let me on this note welcome you, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, to the flag-off of the reconstruction of phases 1 and 2 of the 13 kilometre Onuinyang–Okporoenyi–Oboro– Ikwuano Road which transverses the central and northern senatorial districts of the State and connects tens of thousands of farmers to the urban markets within and outside the State. The communities around this corridor are central to the State’s agricultural development framework having been renowned for the quality and quantity of their farm produce including cocoa, cassava, cereals and vegetables. It is a miracle that you were able to achieve so much with very little support from Government over the decades. One is therefore compelled to commend your resilience and commitment to your trade which ultimately has helped us weather the storms of hunger, poverty and destitution.
3. This event presents us a great opportunity to thank you for your enormous contributions to the economic growth and wellbeing of our people. We have joyfully gathered this afternoon to announce that never again shall your sacrifices and labour go unrecognized and unappreciated by the Government. This 13-kilometre stretch of road shall not only be completed on schedule, it shall be built to stand the test of the elements. It will, on completion, facilitate the regular transport of people and agricultural commodities, fast track inter-community trade and broaden social interactions amongst individuals, families and clans.
4. Roads, as I have consistently maintained, are not just about laying asphalt and creating new routes. In the New Abia, we conceive roads as pathways to prosperity for present and future generations. Through a careful study of the development trajectories of many Asian and Western nations, we have come to the inescapable conclusion that quality roads drive sustained economic growth by inspiring fresh ideas, activating the levers of production and creating new windows for viable partnerships and investments. From the joy and excitement radiating from your faces, it is easy to tell that you are generally happy with the decision of the government to direct its bulldozers, payloaders and other earthmoving machines to this road which cuts across Ikwuano and Bende LGAs. We share in your joy because the wonderful fruits that shall spring forth from this project shall be enjoyed by thousands of people outside the boundaries of this place.
5. Kicking off the road infrastructure restoration and expansion programme of the Administration for 2025 in this part of the State underscores our commitment to the even development of all parts of Abia. We consider every community in the State pivotal to our governance agenda because there are no barren lands in Abia. Our determination to build quality road networks to connect all parts of the State is founded on the conviction that there are abundant human and material resources to be harnessed by opening the roads that were hitherto abandoned through systemic neglect, corruption or just limited awareness of the connection between road and rapid socioeconomic development.
6. From Nunya to Abam, Uzuakoli to Isuochi, Umuala to Umuopara, and across several other semi-urban and rural communities in the State, the present Administration is expanding the frontiers of opportunities for farmers and other players in the agro-allied business ecosystem. Our overarching objective is to give our people the lever they need to create wealth for themselves by harnessing the environmental advantages that exist in their communities.
7. The distinctive feature of our governance paradigm is that it is driven by a carefully defined methodology which prioritises even spread of projects and the capacity of such projects to facilitate the generation of sufficient public sector revenue to keep the wheels of development in constant motion. Our philosophy has revived the urban business and social landscapes, restored order and security in the rural communities and created a clear trajectory for the future of our people, no matter where they live.
8. The size of our vision is enormous and the challenge of effective execution is no less demanding. At any rate, we are equal to the task because we came prepared. The State Government will not only work closely with the LGA mayors to drive our shared development programmes but will also collaborate with the traditional rulers and presidents of town unions, leaders of women and youth groups, and other body of stakeholders as we build a massive development coalition with a mandate to streamline every project to reflect the needs and expectations of the local communities. Whether it is road construction, agricultural development initiatives or social services programmes in the education and health sectors, the approach will always be the same — the stakeholders in every community must be involved at every stage of the project to guarantee wholesome execution and orderly application of resources, and to also cut down chances of sabotage through criminal activities and flagrant expression of political hostilities.
9. It has become a firm policy of the State Government that in the execution of every development project, considerations must be given to the local communities when it comes to the hiring of some categories of the labour force and purchase of inputs that can be found within the communities at competitive rates. The Government is determined to use these projects to economically empower individuals, households and businesses that operate in the State. I have since directed the Office of the Special Adviser to the Governor on Monitoring and Evaluation to closely monitor how this directive is being implemented across all projects sponsored by the State Government and its partners.
10. Let me conclude by thanking the Honourable Commissioner for Works, Engr. Don Otumchere Oti, and his team for professionally directing our governance agenda as it relates to road infrastructure restoration and expansion. I expect them to sustain the momentum in the New Year and ensure that this particular project is successfully delivered on schedule and in line with design specifics. There should be no room for compromise, laxity or breaches.
11. Development, as I often say, is an active partnership between the government and the people wherein the government mobilises resources from the community to create prosperity through strategic investments in public infrastructure and social services. By virtue of the social contract it entered into with the people, the government periodically collects taxes which represent, in an ideal sense, its share of the prosperity it has helped to create. It therefore follows that while we continue to do our part as a Government by initiating projects that improve the welfare of our people across communities, we expect that you would also do your part as patriotic citizens by paying your taxes and other statutory fees regularly and promptly because revenue is the oil that keeps the engine of development lubricated, and in steady motion.
12. Thank you for listening and may God bless Abia State.

Dr Alex C. Otti, OFR,

30/01/2025