Abia Climbs to 3rd in National Performance Ranking as Otti Highlights Gains in Health, Education, Infrastructure

Governor Alex Otti has attributed Abia State’s rise to third place in the 2026 Phillips Consulting State Performance Index to his administration’s sustained investments in healthcare, education, infrastructure and governance.

     Speaking during July media chat on Thursday at Government House, Umuahia, Otti said the latest ranking showed that the government’s reforms were beginning to make a noticeable impact on the lives of Abians.

The governor recalled that Abia was ranked 36th in both 2023 and 2024 before moving to 10th position in 2025. The state has now climbed to third, behind Enugu and Jigawa.

While welcoming the improvement, Otti stressed that the true measure of government performance lies in the experiences of ordinary citizens.

“You can do everything, but if the impact is not felt by the people, then you have achieved nothing. What matters most is how citizens rate the government,” Otti said.

He pointed out that the health sector has recorded some of the administration’s biggest successes, particularly in reducing maternal and infant mortality.

He noted that Abia emerged among the country’s best-performing states in maternal and infant health at the end of the first quarter of 2026, while enrolment into the Abia State Health Insurance Scheme has continued to grow.

According to him, 144 of the state’s 200 Primary Healthcare Centres have been fully upgraded and made operational, while another 77 centres renovated through the World Bank intervention have also been completed.

He added that about 30 more facilities are expected to become functional before the end of next month.

He explained that health centres are only declared functional after renovation, installation of modern equipment and deployment of qualified medical personnel.

1. The governor further disclosed that about 700 health workers have already resumed duty out of the 821 approved for recruitment, adding that more personnel would be employed as additional hospitals reopen.

He said the General Hospitals in Owerrinta and Arochukwu are fully equipped and awaiting commissioning, while rehabilitation work is progressing at the Abia State University Teaching Hospital, Aba, Specialist Hospital, Amachara and the Abam Specialist Hospital.

On education, Otti said the government has continued to expand its Smart School initiative with the commissioning of facilities in Aba North and Ohafia.

He explained that the schools combine conventional classroom teaching with digital learning to prepare pupils for careers in a technology-driven world.

“The idea is to expose our children to modern technology from an early stage.

“The world is changing rapidly with Artificial Intelligence, robotics and digital innovation, and our children must not be left behind,” he said.

The governor admitted that heavy rainfall has slowed the pace of road construction but assured residents that work remains ongoing on major projects across the state.

He said the massive drainage project at Ogbor Hill, Aba, is expected to provide a lasting solution to the perennial flooding challenges in the commercial city by channeling stormwater into the Aba River.

Expressing sympathy to residents affected by the recent floods, Otti said the government remains committed to investing in durable drainage infrastructure.

“We are building drainage channels that will quickly take floodwater off our roads. Our goal is to permanently solve the flooding problem,” he said.

He disclosed that about 82 road projects are currently under construction, while direct labour projects suspended because of the rains will resume once the weather improves.

The governor also highlighted reforms in land administration, revealing that the state has issued 4,923 Certificates of Occupancy in the last three years, with close to 1,000 processed this year alone.

He said the digital mapping of Abia has been completed in partnership with UN-Habitat, paving the way for a fully digitised land administration system that will eliminate fraudulent land transactions and make property documentation faster.

Speaking on housing, Otti acknowledged growing concerns over rising rents in Aba and Umuahia, saying increased demand for accommodation has contributed to higher rental costs.

He, however, announced that the government would soon begin construction of new housing estates, including the Pocket Layout project in Umuahia, to help bridge the housing gap.

“We know there is a shortage of houses in Aba, Umuahia and even Ohafia. Government will play its part by increasing supply because what people need is stability,” he said.

The governor also described the recent visit of the First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, as a major boost for the state’s creative economy.

He said the First Lady had authorised the release of funds she pledged to support Akwete women and revive the famous Akwete fabric industry, adding that the state would announce the receipt of the funds once they are credited.

Otti urged residents to promote the locally woven fabric by wearing and patronising it.

“If we want Akwete fabric to gain global recognition, we must first appreciate and promote it ourselves,” he said.

He added that the proposed Akwete Industrial Hub would improve production, while ongoing restoration works at the Arochukwu Waterfalls, Ojukwu Bunker and the National War Museum are expected to strengthen tourism in the state.

In the transport sector, Otti announced the arrival of 10 additional electric buses, which will operate on routes connecting Umuahia, Aba, Arochukwu, Umunneochi, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Ukwa and Owerri.

He disclosed that surveillance systems have been installed in the buses to monitor drivers and improve accountability, revealing that the driver and conductor of Bus 8 had been dismissed for violating operational guidelines.

The governor also said work is progressing steadily at the Aba Bus Terminal, while the first phase of the Ekeakpara Market remodelling has been completed and will soon be commissioned.

Commending residents for embracing environmental sanitation, Otti said the culture of keeping public spaces clean has continued to grow across the state.

He equally praised security agencies for maintaining peace and order, congratulating the state’s Commissioner of Police on his recent promotion to the rank of Assistant Inspector General of Police.

The governor expressed confidence that the existing collaboration between the state government and security agencies would continue to guarantee the safety of lives and property across Abia.