Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has reaffirmed that his administration will only resort to borrowing when absolutely necessary and strictly for investments that will generate economic returns, not for recurrent expenses or consumption.
The governor made this clear during a welcome dinner held in honour of members of the Abia State Global Economic Advisory Council, an event which also signalled the start of the 2025 mid-year retreat for his appointees.
Speaking at the event, Otti pointed out that contrary to claims by the opposition, Abia State has not borrowed any money since the inception of his administration two years and one month ago.
Addressing the allegations directly, he referenced the latest report from the Debt Management Office, a federal agency, which shows that Abia State achieved the highest debt reduction among all states in the country between March 2024 and March 2025.
“There is nothing wrong with criticizing government, but criticism must be based on facts. Opinions are free, but facts are sacred,” Otti said.
“Some people claim we are borrowing—they are lying. Did I borrow from them? According to the DMO, 26 out of 36 states reduced their loans in the past year, and Abia came first with a 57.20% reduction in debt profile.
“So when we say we haven’t borrowed, we know what we’re talking about. But that doesn’t mean we won’t borrow. We will borrow—but only for regenerative investments. We will not borrow to eat or for consumption. We will borrow for capital projects.”
Governor Otti also responded to growing speculations that he was considering defecting to the All Progressives Congress or aligning with a new political coalition being formed by some opposition elements.
“I’m still a member of the Labour Party. The Supreme Court has resolved the internal crisis that threatened the survival of the party,” he said.
“Some people have asked if I’m among the five governors decamping to APC. My answer is: have you seen my name on any list? Have you seen me at any coalition meeting?
“We’re busy doing the work Abians elected us to do. I haven’t attended any coalition meeting, and no one has invited me. I am happy where I am.”
He acknowledged that political turbulence is part of the system but stressed that his administration confronted its challenges through legitimate processes.
“When we had our issues, we fought all the way to the Supreme Court and retrieved our party. I believe the remaining issues will be resolved soon. The Supreme Court judgment was very clear.”
Governor Otti maintained that his government was elected to “do things right” and warned that individuals unwilling to work with honesty and accountability have no space in his administration.
He also rejected calls for “stomach infrastructure,” asserting that Abians are industrious people who value empowerment through infrastructure and economic opportunities rather than handouts.
“We are focused on enabling the environment for business to thrive—good roads, clean surroundings, and basic services. We’re now working to restore access to clean water.
“In the coming weeks, we’ll flag off the Aba water project around CKC. A similar project is coming to Umuahia and other parts of the state.”
Governor Otti further disclosed that his government has set up a Project Implementation Bureau, led by Mr. Onyinye Nwosu, an Abia-born expert who left his role at General Electric in Canada to contribute his expertise to the development of the state.
He expressed gratitude to the members of the Abia State Global Economic Advisory Council for their dedication and impactful support over the past year.
“Everything revolves around the economy. If the economy is right, everything else falls into place. That’s why we went above and beyond to convince these 20 experts—who are otherwise very busy—to advise us. They’ve been with us for one year, meeting quarterly or as needed, offering ideas we implement.”
Speaking on behalf of the Council, Professor Arunma Oteh, Co-Chair of the Advisory Council, praised the remarkable progress in Abia State.
“It is an absolute pleasure to serve in the Economic Advisory Council and to be part of what has been achieved in Abia. Today, Abia is not just number one alphabetically—it’s also number one in performance.”