As Governor Alex Otti of Abia State gears towards the commissioning of some landmark projects delivered by his administration, across the State particularly in Aba, the commercial hub in the last two years. The Great Aba Enyimba Businessmen Association, GAEBA, has called for a development of a robust maintenance culture among residents to safeguard public facilities.
This is just as the group commended the Governor for his massive infrastructural renewal efforts, which has opened up once again the economic development space of the state after years of unmitigated retrogression and retardation.
NewsCritic online reports that Gov Otti will on Tuesday June 10, 2025 commence the inauguration of over 14 projects executed by his administration in the last two years in Aba and other parts of the state.
In a statement jointly issued on Monday June 9th, 2025 by Chief Alphonsus Udeigbo and Dr Ikechukwu Anyanwu President General and Secretary respectively, the GAEBA while appreciating Gov Otti for his commitment towards reinventing and restoring the eroded economic fortune of Aba, and other parts of the state through investment in infrastructural facilities, including roads, education, hospitals and others, however noted that there is the urgent need for residents to help in ensuring that amenities built for their use are protected .
To this end the GAEBA has pledged to embark on the sensitization of not only its members, but also the entire Aba and Abia residents on the need to avoid the abuse and misuse of public infrastructural facilities.
“One thing is for the Government to strive to put in place the infrastructures, but another thing is for the people to value and protect them from abuse and misuse.
Governor Otti, today has done well by rehabilitating and reconstructing our otherwise dilapidated roads, and other facilities”.
Most of the roads that were impassable especially in Aba, like the Port Harcourt road have been put into good shape. However, having spent so much in achieving this, we at GAEBA believe that the citizens and residents should play their parts in ensuring that these projects serve the needs of the people by avoiding actions that can lead to their destruction.
People and residents for instance should avoid throwing refuse and channeling wastes into drainages and other unapproved public facilities.
It is our belief that the Government will be encouraged to do more when the people put into good use, as well as protect the infrastructure already set up”, GAEBA stated.
The GAEBA also lauded the Governor for his achievements in other areas, including the prompt and regular payments of pensions, salaries and other entitlements of pensioners and workers, the rejuvenation of the education and health sectors, the payments of accumulated salary arrears and recently the approval of a 100 % salary increase for health workers and recruitment of healthcare personnel to boost healthcare delivery system in the state.
The businessmen association while offering a stamp of approval to the Governor’s vision for a vibrant and dynamic Abia, also expressed its readiness to partner the Government in its efforts to sustain the momentum.
“We want to use this opportunity to reassure our performing Governor, Dr Alex Otti of our unalloyed loyalty, and support in his administration quest to move Abia to the next level.
We have decided to mobilize the Aba business community to support the state Government in all its efforts at rediscovering and projecting the economic potentials of Aba and Abia in general.
“Particularly, the GAEBA, wishes to reaffirm our readiness to be part of the Governor’s cross bearers come 2027 general elections,” the group asserted.
In a related development, the Aba Land Protection and Development Association, APALDA, has assured Gov Otti of its commitment towards his re-election bid in 2027.
While welcoming the Governor to Aba for the commissioning of some projects executed in the last two years, the umbrella body of Aba property owners, said the body is set to reward him for keeping fate with the people.
Speaking on Monday in Aba ALPADA President General, Sir Udeigbo appreciated GovOtti for providing succour to members and other residents, through the reconstruction of dilapidated roads in the commercial nerve centre of the state.
According to him, every segment of the commercial city has come back to life as a result of the reconstruction of major roads, especially the Port Harcourt road.
