Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Chioma Otti, will on Friday, October 24, 2025, flag off the reconstruction of two key road projects — the 25-kilometer Umuahia–Ikot Ekpene Road and the 13.1-kilometer Ariam–Usaka Ring Road — both located in Ikwuano Local Government Area of the state.

The twin flag-off ceremonies are scheduled to be held at the Timber Market, Ahia-Eke, Umuahia North LGA, at 11:00 a.m., and at Obeama Ariam Model Primary School, Ikwuano LGA, at 12:00 noon, respectively.

According to the state Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, the reconstruction of these strategic roads aligns with Governor Otti’s infrastructure renewal agenda and his administration’s drive to improve rural connectivity and stimulate economic growth across the state.

The Umuahia–Ikot Ekpene Road, a major inter-state corridor linking Abia to Akwa Ibom, has for years suffered neglect, leading to severe transportation challenges for residents and traders. Similarly, the Ariam–Usaka Ring Road serves as a critical route for agricultural produce and rural commerce within Ikwuano.

When completed, both projects are expected to enhance trade, agriculture, and ease of movement between communities in Abia and neighboring states.

Top government officials, political stakeholders, traditional rulers, transport unions, market associations, and residents of Ikwuano are expected to attend the flag-off ceremonies.

“These projects are part of the administration’s strategic plan to open up rural economies and make life easier for our people,” the Commissioner noted.

• Picture: The visitors in a group photo with Governor Otti. Second from left is Special Adviser to the Governor on Monitoring and Evaluation, Mazi Ugochukwu Okoroafor.

The leadership of Nzuko Aro, Aba branch, on Tuesday, paid a courtesy visit to the Executive Governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Chioma Otti, at the Government House, Umuahia.

A press statement signed by Ctz. UKOHA, NJOKU UKOHA, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, said the group expressed deep appreciation to Governor Otti for his transformational strides across the state and particularly commended him for breaking the age-long jinx surrounding the difficulty of accessing Arochukwu.

The Governor in his response, thanked the delegation for their visit and show of solidarity. He reiterated his administration’s unwavering commitment to the holistic development of all parts of Abia State and to improving the quality of life of its citizens.

He further disclosed that he had given a matching order to the contractor handling the Ohafia–Arochukwu road project to ensure its completion and delivery within the first quarter of next year.

Also present at the meeting was the Special Adviser to the Governor on Monitoring and Evaluation, Mazi Ugochukwu Okoroafor.

Display picture: The leader of the group decorates Governor Otti with ‘Omu Aro,’ Arochukwu’s famed traditional cloth.

…Says their strength feeds Nation

Picture: FIDA Global President, Mrs. Ezinwa Okoroafor.

As the world marks the 2025 United Nations International Day of Rural Women, the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) has reaffirmed that empowering women in rural communities is not an act of charity but a global legal and moral duty.

In a message commemorating this year’s theme, “Rural Women: Cultivating Good Food for All,” FIDA Global President, Mrs. Ezinwa Okoroafor, paid tribute to the resilience and indispensable contributions of rural women to global food security and community stability.

She noted that from smallholder farms to large cooperatives, rural women sustain families and economies despite facing persistent barriers such as limited access to land, credit, education, and healthcare, as well as exclusion from decision-making structures.

“Empowering rural women is not charity; it is a legal, moral, and global obligation,” Okoroafor said.“When rural women thrive, they feed more than their families — they nourish entire nations.”

FIDA called on governments, states, development partners, and civil society to design and implement laws and programs that protect rural women’s rights, enhance their productivity, and ensure their voices are heard at every level of policy-making.

Reiterating its commitment to gender equality and social justice, FIDA emphasized that the empowerment of rural women is critical to ending hunger and achieving sustainable development.

“When rural women rise, humanity flourishes,” Okoroafor declared. “Their empowerment is the seed of equality, justice, and shared prosperity for generations to come.”

FIDA pledged to continue standing with rural women around the world — defending their rights, amplifying their voices, and promoting a fairer and more inclusive global community where every woman can cultivate not only food, but freedom and dignity.

By Odinakachi Eric Eme

In the last few days, a group calling itself the Abia APC Renaissance Group attempted to stir public sentiment with a publication riddled with inaccuracies, conjecture, and a profound lack of understanding of how multilateral financing operates. Their claim that the Abia State Government has already “utilized” funds from the African Development Bank (AfDB), the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), and the Canadian Climate Action Africa Facility (CAAF) is not only laughable but also exposes an alarming ignorance of how international development frameworks function.
As the official responsible for coordinating and speaking on behalf of the Abia State Government in multilateral and donor engagements, I find it necessary to correct these distortions and present the facts clearly to the people of Abia. Governance is not theatre; it is grounded in process, accountability, and verifiable truth.
The assertion that Abia State has already received and expended the AfDB, IsDB, and CAAF facilities would have been laughable if it were not so reckless. Those who truly understand development financing know that projects of this nature follow strict international protocols. For the avoidance of doubt, the ABSIID Project is still in its early implementation stage. While the AfDB has launched its component, no disbursement for infrastructure or civil works has taken place. The Subsidiary Loan Agreement with the Islamic Development Bank, which must be concluded before any fund release, is still under review and finalization.
Contrary to the outrageous claim that 123 million dollars has been credited to the state account, the actual amount received is only 115,000 dollars, strictly for operational logistics to cover project takeoff expenses such as staffing, coordination, and preliminary preparations. It’s important to state categorically that this fund has not been touched or utilized. No capital funds have been accessed or spent.
It is important to clarify once again that the ABSIID Project operates under a direct payment modality for both the AfDB and IsDB components. This means that payments for civil works, goods, and services are made directly by the lenders to verified contractors and consultants, not through the state government’s accounts. Abia State’s role is strictly supervisory, ensuring compliance, facilitating monitoring, and maintaining institutional alignment with the lenders’ procedures.
Only the CAAF component differs slightly, as it allows funds to be paid into a designated state project account for specific climate-related interventions. Even that process is governed by a rigorous financial framework jointly overseen by the lenders and the Federal Ministry of Finance, ensuring that every dollar is traceable and every expenditure auditable.
Governor Alex Otti’s administration has distinguished itself by restoring donor confidence and credibility, qualities that were long eroded in the past. What previous administrations could not achieve because of non-compliance and lack of transparency, this government has revived, restructured, and positioned for success. Abia now stands as a model of fiscal discipline and administrative credibility, recognized by international development partners as a responsible, reform-driven state. The Project Implementation Unit operates under full international oversight, ensuring that every project milestone is verified, every fund properly accounted for, and every process aligned with global best practices.
It is quite unfortunate that some politically exposed individuals, who should know better, are now sponsoring smear campaigns against the state, not out of patriotism, but out of envy and misplaced ambition for 2027. Their goal is simple: to discredit a transparent administration that is succeeding where others failed. It is public knowledge that a certain federal lawmaker and political actors in the opposition are giving subtle backing to these attacks, hoping to score cheap political points at the expense of the state’s integrity. Their actions are not just petty; they are dangerous because they seek to undermine Abia’s reputation before the very international partners whose confidence we have worked hard to rebuild.
Let it be clearly stated that such political gamesmanship will fail. The facts are too clear, the records too transparent, and the world is watching. Abia State’s reputation is not a tool for political battles. Those who claim to represent the people must first respect the truth. Propaganda cannot replace policy, and ambition should never outweigh integrity.
Governor Alex Otti’s administration remains focused on delivering transformative governance through transparency, partnerships, and results. The ABSIID Project is a cornerstone of that vision, and no amount of misinformation will derail its progress. To those who peddle lies and cloak them in politics, a simple reminder: facts are stubborn things, and in the end, truth always outlives propaganda.
Politics should never come at the expense of truth. Those who aspire to speak on governance matters should first understand them. When propaganda is dressed as information, it insults the intelligence of the people and undermines the very development it pretends to defend. Abians deserve better, and under this administration, they are getting exactly that: responsible governance, credible partnerships, and a transparent pathway to sustainable growth.
So, to those who trade in distortions and call it politics, a gentle reminder: ignorance is not an argument. Abia is no longer the byword for administrative opacity. Under Dr. Alex Otti, the state has rebuilt its credibility with donor agencies, financial institutions, and development partners. The world is once again willing to trust Abia, not because of propaganda, but because of policy, prudence, and professionalism. Those who spent years mortgaging the state’s image may find this new reality uncomfortable, but progress is often unsettling to those accustomed to chaos.
The New Abia is here, and no amount of propaganda will distract us.

Odinakachi Eric Eme is Senior Special Assistant to Governor Otti on Multilateral and Donor Agencies.