Abia State Governor, His Excellency, Dr. Alex Otti, OFR, has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to spreading development across every nook and cranny of the State.
Governor Otti stated this when he received a delegation of the Board and Management of the Greater Ohafia Development Authority (GODA), who paid him a working visit to present a report of their activities in the last two years since the Authority was established.
Recall that two years ago, Governor Otti’s administration established the Greater Ohafia Development Authority with a mandate to drive development across the Abia North Senatorial District, comprising Arochukwu, Bende, Isuikwuato, Ohafia and Umunneochi Local Government Areas.
“The reality is that there are too many things to do, unfortunately there are constraints – constraints of time, constraint of budget. So, we can only do so much within the limited time that we have and the limited resources available. We will continue to take them one at a time.
“I’m glad, listening to the projects, they are spread across the five Local Governments under GODA. That is also the policy of this Government.
“We want to spread development to every nook and cranny of the State. But because every nook and cranny is looking for something, we cannot do all at the same time,” Governor Otti said.
Governor Otti disclosed that his administration has several ongoing projects to complete, adding that the government would ensure that available funds in the 2027 budget are channelled towards completing them before the end of the year and, at the latest, early upper year.
The Governor congratulated and thanked the GODA delegation for presenting its report, commending them for their achievements and encouraging them to sustain their efforts towards developing the communities under their jurisdiction.
“I have listened to the report card and I want to congratulate you for the great impact you have made in the past 24 months. I have no doubt that if you were not there, these would not have been achieved.
“I also note your request to continue to fund existing activities. That is in agreement with my communication to the DG sometime last month to say that as the year runs to an end, there is no point starting activities that we would not be able to complete within the financial year, and that it makes more sense to focus on completing existing projects.
“So the request you made is exactly in agreement with the directive I had earlier given, not just to you but to other development agencies, even the Ministries of Works, Health and Education.
“I assure you that the Government will do everything possible to ensure that the projects you have started will be completed,” Gov. Otti added.
Earlier, the Chairman of the GODA Board, Professor Awa Kalu, SAN, said the delegation was at the Government House to present a report of its activities in the last two years, following its appointment by the Governor to drive the Authority’s development mandate.
Presenting the report, the Director-General of GODA, Engr. Obinna Odum, said the Authority had made significant progress in translating Governor Otti’s vision for Abia North into tangible developmental interventions across the five Local Government Areas.
On road construction and reconstruction, he said: “Within these two years, we have facilitated and executed 26 road infrastructure projects measuring over 42.8km, including the construction and rehabilitation of strategic community and agrarian roads, bridges, drainage systems and erosion-control interventions.”
Some of the projects include the construction of 1.58km Amaekpu Ring Road, Ohafia; rehabilitation of 2.45km Obilohia – Amune – Ovim – Umuakwua Road, Isuikwuato, which was commissioned by His Excellency; rehabilitation of 1.4km Amaja – Umualum Road, Nneato; construction of Afia Nkwo (New Isiama Daily Market) in Ohafia, and many more.
According to the DG, these projects are gradually improving connectivity, opening up rural communities, supporting agricultural activities and stimulating local economic growth.
Beyond road infrastructure, GODA had also supported interventions in agriculture, water supply, market development and public infrastructure.
“Your Excellency, one of our notable institutional achievements has been our role in attracting the Agricultural and Rural Management Training Institute (ARMTI) to establish its South-East Regional Office in Abia State, domiciled in Abia North.
“We are equally advancing engagements towards attracting other strategic federal institutions and development opportunities into the region,” Engr. Odum added.
The DG appealed for the Governor’s continued support through timely funding and approval of priority projects, particularly ongoing road projects and those awaiting commencement.
“Some of the projects he mentioned include the 2.5km Amaba – Ugwueke – Amaokai Road in Bende LGA, Amibo – Acha – Umunnekwu Road in Isuikwuato LGA, and Oroni – Nkporo Road in Ohafia LGA, among others.
He also sought sustained support in other critical areas, including the development of the Abia North Master Plan, economic investment and industrialisation, and institutional strengthening.
The delegation thanked the Governor for his unwavering support, noting that the achievements recorded so far were products of his purposeful leadership and commitment to equitable development across the State.
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Other members of the Board at the meeting included Sir Johnson Chukwu, Sir Ike Orika and Dr. Onyinyechi Rufus-Obi.
