President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is expected in Abia State before May 29 to officially inaugurate the newly reconstructed Port Harcourt Road in Aba.
Governor Alex Otti made the disclosure during a media parley held Wednesday night in Umuahia, revealing that the 6.5-kilometre strategic road, executed by Julius Berger, is now complete and would be handed over to the State Ministry of Works within a week.
Governor Otti awarded the reconstruction contract shortly after assuming office in 2023, with an initial two-year completion timeline. However, he announced that the work had been delivered ahead of schedule.
In addition to the road commissioning, President Tinubu is also expected to flag off the Abia Medical City project, a signature health infrastructure initiative of the Otti administration. The project is estimated to cost $1.3 billion.
According to the Governor, the Abia Medical City, when completed, will significantly reduce the number of Nigerians seeking medical attention abroad and position Abia as a regional hub for healthcare services.
“The medical city, a flagship medical project of his administration when completed, would end overseas medical tourism by Abians and other Nigerians,” Otti said.
He added that the medical city is expected to serve as a referral centre for the entire West African sub-region and has the potential to generate about $200 million annually for the state.
Highlighting the achievements of his administration in the health sector in less than two years, Governor Otti noted that of the 200 Primary Healthcare Centres under construction or renovation, 103 had reached 70 percent completion, with work also advancing on the remaining 97.
He assured that all 900 PHCs across the state “will receive the touch of the new Abia,” and added that several General Hospitals were simultaneously undergoing refurbishment to ensure access to quality and affordable healthcare for residents.
The Governor disclosed that his administration had approved the hiring of additional healthcare personnel to close the gap in manpower across medical facilities. He said adequate budgetary provisions had been made for the new hires.
He also noted that beyond the 200 PHCs being handled by the state, the World Bank is currently renovating another 68 across Abia.
Governor Otti explained that his government is deliberate in investing in healthcare, infrastructure, and education, describing them as the foundation of any developed society.
On the education front, the Governor revealed that school enrolment in the state had surged to 700,000 due to the free and compulsory education policy now in place from primary school to Junior Secondary School 3.
He said the sharp increase in student numbers prompted the state to approve the recruitment of 4,000 additional teachers, on top of the 5,000 already being engaged.
“Beyond recruiting new teachers, we are also ensuring that our teachers receive the necessary training to be able to provide the needed quality education that can make our products globally competitive,” Otti said.
“We are paying special attention to mathematics, science, and technology so we can have tech experts and gurus in robotics,” he added.
When asked about the alleged 24 months of unpaid pensions to retired staff of the Abia State University, Uturu, Governor Otti said he was not aware of the matter. He immediately directed the Commissioner for Tertiary Education to investigate and report back with accurate details for prompt action.
He also disclosed that a 5,000-bed hostel currently under construction at ABSU would be completed within three months. Additionally, he said he had directed the renovation of existing hostels in the university to improve student living conditions.
Governor Otti expressed gratitude to the people of Abia for their continued support and assured that more developmental projects and reforms would be rolled out in the coming months.
