We’re preparing Abia for next century through digital transformation – Otti

From Boniface Okoro, Umuahia 

Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti, says his administration is preparing the state for the next century through digital technolgy transformation.

 Governor Otti, during the June edition of his Monthly Media Chat tagged “Governor Otti Speaks to Abians,” disclosed that one of the great things that would happen to Abia this year would be to expose the state to digital economy.

At the Media Chat held at the Banquet Hall of Government House, Umuahia on Friday, June 21, 2024, the Governor said: “Of course, the major thing that will happen this year is migrating us (Abians) from the moribund analog economy to a digital economy.”

He said that he would, “in the next few days,” appoint a “Chief Information Technology” of the state, adding “and that is to prepare us for the digital transformation of Abia State.” 

According to him, the necessary things needed to aid the digital transformation, were being put in place to ensure a smooth transition, which, he said, “will be heralded by the broadband technology.” 

Governor Otti disclosed that government was  “already at the final stages of discussion,” to install the broadband technology to enable Abians access free data wherever they may be.

“Wherever you are, you can have access to data, not the one that will work, go off, work again, go off. So, we are preparing our state for the next century,” the Governor said.

Governor Otti used the forum to explain that his administration was paying great attention to building or reconstructing roads because access was key to economic growth. 

He therefore informed Abians that his administration has done about 90 township roads in Aba and Umuahia.

“At the last count, we had completed the reconstruction and fixing of 90 roads which were in different stages of dilapidation. All the 90 roads were done by our Ministry of Works by direct labour. Some of them fit into our zero-pothole policy.”

He continued: “We have reconstructed, rebuilt and inaugurated 16 roads, we are also working on another 16 roads at the moment and the total length of the 16 roads, I understand, is about 165 kilometres, spiraling through the three senatorial zones of the state.

“We have awarded the long-abandoned Ohanku road in Aba. That is a very strategic road which leads to several settlements in Aba. We felt that the state of the road required that we apply rigid cement pavement technology. Work has started on Ohanku road, so also a few other roads in Aba.

“We are very strategic about roads because we believe very strongly that access is key to the economy.”

The Governor said his administration plans to do a road in each local government area in the next one year, adding that such roads were bring compiled. 

He said he would approach the House of Assembly for virement ‘because it does appear that we are running faster than our budget on roads. By the time we are done, I am sure we will have enough money to give access to different communities in the state.”

Reviewing government’s activities in the past one month, Governor Otti said that all General Hospitals and Primary Health Centres in the state were receiving attention, stressing that because the Primary Health Centres were numerous, they were being handled in batches.

According to him, 19 courses of Abia State University Teaching Hospital have already received accreditation while the remodelling of primary and secondary schools were progressing.

In agriculture, he said the state has sent 300 Abia men and women, selected from the 124 electoral Wards in the state  to Nassarwa State, where they are undergoing sophisticated mechanized agricultural training at CSS Farms. “The whole idea is that they will be able to train others as they come back,” he said.

On security, Governor Otti expressed gratitude to God that the killing of five soldiers on duty at Obikabia Junction in Aba did not escalate violence in the state.

“All of us know that this government takes the issue of security very seriously. Unfortunately, there was a breach on the 30th of May. We all know the story. But the important thing that I will like to say is that we thank God that it wasn’t worse than that and we are leaving no stone unturned to ensure that everyone who is directly or remotely connected with that dastardly act where soldiers who were on a lawful duty to protect our people were murdered in cold blood will not go unpunished.

“We have done what we can do as a government. I am sure you followed: we visited the families, we visited the authorities and placed a bounty on the heads of the criminals. We are getting positive feedbacks and when the time is appropriate, you will be informed,” the Governor said.

He vowed that government would fight crime and criminality in the state, especially in Aba and Umuahia, to a standstill.

“We continue to get reports of crime and criminality in a few parts of Aba and Umuahia and we have empowered Operation Crush to crush all such activities anywhere they rear their heads and we have given the criminals sufficient warnings, so we are not warning anybody anymore,” he said, adding “but from this night, you will see what will happen because we feel that some of this criminals were given notice to leave township and they are trying to test our will and we can assure them that our resolve is stronger than ever.”