Governor Alex Otti has announced the completion of the digital mapping of Abia State’s entire landmass, describing it as a major milestone in modernising land administration and eliminating fraud in property transactions.
Speaking during a media chat in Umuahia on Thursday, Otti said the project was executed in partnership with UN-Habitat and would usher in a fully digitised land administration system.
According to the governor, the initiative will enhance transparency in land transactions and end cases of multiple allocations, fraud and other irregularities associated with land acquisition.
“We have completed the digital mapping of the entire state. UN-Habitat worked with us on that. Going forward, everything about land administration will be digitised.
“The stories of people being duped, deceived or scammed in the process of acquiring land will become a thing of the past once everything is on a digital platform,” he said.
Otti disclosed that the state had issued 4,923 Certificates of Occupancy (C of Os), with nearly 1,000 issued in 2026 alone, enabling landowners to establish legal ownership and use their property documents for business and other legitimate transactions.
On housing, the governor acknowledged the shortage of residential accommodation in Aba and Umuahia and announced plans to commence the construction of the Pocket Layout in Umuahia alongside other housing estates to increase housing supply and promote orderly urban development.
In the creative sector, Otti said the state government had opened an account to receive funds pledged by the First Lady, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, for members of the Akwete Cloth Cooperative.
He encouraged residents to promote the indigenous Akwete cloth by wearing it and purchasing it as gifts, saying greater patronage would expand the market and ensure the sustainability of the local weaving industry.
The governor also announced that work had commenced on the development of the Ibom Waterfalls in Arochukwu Local Government Area, while the Ojukwu Bunker tourism project was at an advanced stage as part of efforts to unlock the state’s tourism potential.
He commended residents for embracing environmental sanitation and urged them to sustain the culture of keeping their surroundings clean.
On transportation, Otti disclosed that the state had received an additional 20 electric buses to expand its mass transit system.
He said the government was finalising operational routes and added that the buses had been equipped with electronic surveillance systems to monitor their operations and ensure compliance with approved routes.
Providing an update on the Abia Airport Project, the governor said Phase One was nearing completion while preparations for the next phase were already underway.
He also commended security agencies for maintaining peace across the state, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to protecting lives and property.
Otti highlighted the state’s improved performance in governance, noting that Abia had emerged as the third most improved state in the 2026 Phillips Consulting State Performance Index (pSPI).
According to him, the state moved from 36th position in the 2023 ranking to 10th in 2025 and now ranks third in the 2026 index, attributing the achievement to sustained investments in critical sectors.
“The most important assessment for me is how citizens rate their state. You can implement numerous projects, but if the impact is not felt by the people, then you have achieved very little,” he said.
The governor said the administration had also recorded significant gains in the health sector, including a substantial reduction in maternal and infant mortality.
He said that by the end of the first quarter of 2026, Abia ranked among the best-performing states in Nigeria in reducing maternal and infant mortality.
Otti added that the state had recorded no cases of Lassa fever despite outbreaks in other parts of the country, while enrolment under the Abia State Health Insurance Scheme continued to grow.
According to him, 144 of the 200 Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) under Project Ekwueme had been fully functionalised, with another 30 expected to become operational before the end of August.
He explained that the functionalisation programme involved comprehensive renovation of facilities, installation of modern equipment and deployment of qualified healthcare personnel.
The governor said the Cottage Hospital at Abayi, Aba, had commenced operations and would soon be inaugurated, while the General Hospitals at Obingwa and Arochukwu had been fully equipped and were ready for commissioning.
He added that rehabilitation work was ongoing at the Abia State University Teaching Hospital (ABSUTH), the Specialist Hospital at Umunnato and the Amachara General Hospital.
Otti disclosed that 700 of the 891 approved medical personnel had resumed duty, adding that more healthcare workers would be recruited as additional health facilities become operational.
He also announced plans to reopen previously closed general hospitals in Oke Ikpe, Umunneochi, Isiala Ngwa North and other parts of the state.
The governor further revealed that reconstruction of the General Hospital, Ohafia, had commenced after the previous structure was demolished because of structural defects.
On education, Otti said two of the 20 Smart Schools being constructed across the state had already been commissioned, with the remaining schools to be inaugurated in phases.
He explained that the schools would combine conventional classroom learning with digital education to prepare pupils for emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, robotics and 3D printing.
According to him, the initiative is designed to equip children with digital skills from an early age and position them to compete in the global economy.
Speaking on infrastructure, the governor acknowledged that road construction had slowed due to heavy rainfall but assured residents that work was progressing steadily on major projects across the state.
He said the drainage tunnel under construction at Obohia in Aba would channel stormwater into the Aba River and permanently address flooding in the area.
According to Otti, the ongoing drainage projects are designed to improve flood control across the state and ensure that floodwaters recede quickly after heavy rainfall.
Source:NAN
