15/04/2026
*We are proud to have found a team of reliable development partners in ANPA, who have not only come to lift the burden of difficult health limitations for several members of our community, but to offer hands-on training and mentorship for hundreds of healthcare professionals working here.*
*The body of ophthalmologists from our sister State here in Nigeria, who have also joined this mission to attend to the higher healthcare needs of our people. Thank you for volunteering to support our State with your much sought-after expertise,"*
*We want ANPA to be involved in the entire spectrum of our healthcare delivery efforts, from remote consultation and advisory, through our soon-to-be-launched digital health services portal, to other systems of support that will see the State benefit extensively from their global exposure and reach,”*
*We are committed to exploring every opportunity that presents itself to us to improve our health indicators, because quality healthcare delivery is central to the wealth and prosperity of our population and the restoration of human dignity,”*
Gov Alex Chioma Otti as he flagged off the 5-day Association of Nigeria Physicians in the America (ANPA) Medical Mission (14th April 2026)
*--WORDS ON THE MARBLE--From the Stable of ABIA ARISE MOVEMENT*
13/04/2026
*(RADIO COMMENTARY)*
*GOVERNOR ALEX OTTI'S TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADERSHIP:* *THE "OTTI OR NOTHING" MANTRA*
In Abia State, a new era of governance is unfolding under Governor Alex Otti. His "Otti or Nothing" Mantra embodies a philosophy of transformation, transparency, and innovative thinking. By challenging traditional norms. Otti is pushing for tangible progress in key sectors, from agriculture to infrastructure.
His approach emphasizes accountability, citizen engagement and leveraging resources for maximum impact. The Governor's focus on transparency has led to initiatives like Public budget tracking and open meetings,fostering trust with the People.
Governor Alex Ottis' THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX has led to significant strides in transforming Abia State with notable achievements in infrastructure, healthcare, Education and Economic development.
*Infrastructure Development*
- Over 140 roads constructed or rehabilitated, including major projects like the Omenuko Bridge, IBB-Ahiaeke Road, and Ndoki Road.
- Introduction of electric buses to improve mobility and reduce traffic congestion.
- Launch of the Abia State Integrated Infrastructure Development (ABSIID) project to enhance road infrastructure, mitigate erosion, and improve waste management. ¹ ² ³
*Healthcare*
- Project Ekwueme aimed at retrofitting 200 healthcare centers in 100 days.
- Subsidized health insurance scheme for civil servants.
- Upgraded hospitals and primary healthcare centers, contributing to a 12% reduction in infant mortality and 10% decrease in maternal mortality rates.
*Education*
- Construction of smart schools in all local government areas.
- Recruitment of thousands of new teachers and comprehensive school renovations.
- AbiaFIRST Transformation Education programme focused on strategic initiatives to transform the education sector. ⁴
*Economic Development*
- 10% increase in GDP and 8% reduction in poverty rates.
- Attracted billions of Naira in investments, generating over 10,000 new jobs.
- Establishment of the Abia Industrial and Innovation Park to attract investors and promote economic diversification
The core of this philosophy (OTTI OR NOTHING) includes quality leadership, service, inclusive governance, and a people-oriented approach. Otti emphasizes, "Leadership is about service, not power."
Otti's mantra echoes in his commitment: "We are not just building roads, we are building a future." With a people-oriented approach, governance prioritizes citizen needs, inclusivity, and service delivery. As Abia State charts a new course, the question is: will 'Otti or Nothing' translate to meaningful change for its people? With a track record of turning challenges into opportunities, Governor Otti seems poised to redefine what's possible in Abia GOD'S OWN STATE.
Written by Maduka Okoro
06/04/2026
AN INTERNATIONAL CARGO AIRPORT IN ABIA, A NECESSITY LONG OVERDUE
There comes a time in the life of a people when silence becomes complicity, when refusal to speak emboldens mediocrity, and when logic must rise to confront noise. That time is now.
The argument making the rounds, that Owerri Airport is about one hour from Aba and roughly fifty minutes from Umuahia, and therefore negates the need for an airport in Abia State, is not only shallow, it is dangerously myopic. It is the kind of thinking that has held regions down for decades, a mindset that confuses proximity with sufficiency, and convenience with development.
Let us begin from first principles. Development is not built on managing limitations, it is built on expanding possibilities.
Alex Otti is absolutely right to conceive, nurture, and pursue the establishment of an international cargo airport in Abia. This is not a vanity project. It is not political decoration. It is a strategic economic intervention, long overdue.
Aba is not just another city. Aba is a commercial nerve center, a production powerhouse, a marketplace of ideas, goods, and enterprise. From leather works to garments, from fabrication to indigenous innovation, Aba feeds markets far beyond the South East. It is one of Nigeria’s most vibrant industrial ecosystems. Yet, it operates without a direct aviation infrastructure that reflects its economic weight.
This is not just an oversight, it is an injustice.
A serious commercial hub must have a logistics backbone that supports its scale. Roads alone cannot carry the burden of modern commerce. An international cargo airport is not a luxury for Aba, it is an economic necessity. It will unlock export potential, reduce transportation delays, attract foreign investment, and position Abia as a critical node in global trade networks.
Those who argue that nearby airports in Owerri, Enugu, and Port Harcourt are sufficient miss the point entirely. Infrastructure is not about “managing with what is nearby,” it is about building what directly serves your economic reality. No thriving commercial hub in the world outsources its logistics lifeline to neighboring states.
Even more laughable is the argument that aircraft will collide in the air because of proximity between airports. This is not just incorrect, it is embarrassingly uninformed. Aviation is governed by strict international protocols, coordinated airspaces, and highly trained air traffic control systems. Around the world, multiple airports operate within close geographical ranges without incident. Airspace management is a science, not guesswork. No professional in aviation has raised such a concern, because it simply does not exist.
To propagate such an argument is to advertise ignorance with confidence.
Beyond economics and logistics lies something even more fundamental, dignity.
Abia people deserve the right to depart from anywhere in the world and land directly in their own state. This is not an unreasonable demand. It is not excessive ambition. It is a basic expectation of identity, belonging, and progress. To deny a people this on the altar of political pettiness or intellectual laziness is unjust.
What Alex Otti envisions is not just an airport, but a standard. A facility that will be properly managed, globally competitive, and a source of pride to Ndi Abia. For once, there is a deliberate attempt to align infrastructure with economic reality, and it deserves support, not sabotage.
History will not remember those who argued against progress with recycled excuses. It will remember those who saw the future and chose to build it.
An international cargo airport in Abia is not a debate. It is a necessity whose time has come, and whose delay has already cost too much.
Let it rise.
Nze Ukwu Ugezu J. Ugezu Writes
Ayaka Igbo Gburugburu
05/04/2026
"*Let me thank all our brothers and sisters for their support. Particularly, the genuine people who have supported our decision to site an Airport in this community*
*Because it is a City, there are so many things that will come with it. If you are following, you will understand that the Nigerian Air Force has already taken 100 hectares of land to build their facility here*
*A highly-rated hotel is going to be sited at the Airport. This hotel is going to be managed internationally. Plazas, so many things are coming with the Airport City*
*So, if you didn't understand it before, understand it, that we are not just putting an Airport. It will come with a lot of things that will provide jobs for our people, move the economy forward, and give our people a new lease of life*
*I am aware that some of your sons have been against siting the Airport here. It is because they don't understand*
*There is no way they would be against something that will lift this community*
*So, my message to you is that, when you go back, those who are from this community, we are not interested in fighting with them, even though we will win them,” explaining that the land belongs to the government, and the person who has the authority to take the land or give it out is the Governor*"
*--Gov. Alex Otti when he received Chief Omerekpe, GOC Nnaji, Other Opposition Heavyweights into the Labour Party (LP(--*
(04-04-26)
*--WORDS ON THE MARBLE-- From the Stable of ABIA ARISE MOVEMENT*
15/04/2026
15/04/2026
13/04/2026
06/04/2026
05/04/2026