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Abia infrastructure : Ministry of Budget and Planning gets facelift

Published

2 years ago

September 14, 2024

csunews

Stephanie Clems, Umuahia

The ministry of budget and planning is now wearing a new look following the renovation and retrofitting of the office complex by the governor Otti’s administration.

Special Adviser to governor Otti on Media and publicity, Mr. Ferdinand Ekeoma wrote; “Do you recognise this building from the Pictures? Well, a few months ago, I shared pictures from this building belonging to Ministry of Budget and Planning.

“The place was in a state of absolute decay and dilapidation. It looked horrible, dingy, and very unconducive for decent staff to budget and plan. “

The ministry had been in a bad state with inadequate work tools leading to alleged idleness and unproductivity of staff.

Continuing, Mr. Ekeoma said “If you walk into the old Ministry of Budget and Planning building, you’ll see workers sitting together at the entrance near the staircase leading to the main building, gisting and doing nothing. The only thing they have in front of them are lockers and some pieces of paper. Over the years, they have been rendered unproductive, as they neither have offices to work from nor job descriptions to work with.”

He said that apart from the renovation, equipment have been procured to help the staff perform optimally.

“Beyond the beautiful reconstruction that has taken place, the place is being fully furnished to have the necessary amenities and facilities for effective service delivery while the Ministry of Budget and Planning is already working out modalities to retrain the staff and equip them to become productive and useful to themselves and to the state .

“In line with the vision and directive of His Excellency, Governor Alex Otti, key building infrastructures in the state are being rebuilt and retrofitted to provide accommodations for staff and heads of different MDAs and create decent working environments that would have the alluring ambiance synonymous with the New Abia standard.

“The Alex Otti led-government is intentional about ensuring systematic and consistent rebuilding of key infrastructures in the state as a way of erasing the old filthy signature of unseriousness and mediocrity made prominent by conspicuous decay and deterioration of key government infrastructures.”

He cited the JAAC building, the old Secretariat, the new secretariat, the Emeka Omerua government Guest House, governor’s banquet hall, Political block, the deputy governor’s office building as examples of structures that had received due attention by the present administration.

He also said, “of course, our hospitals and schools are beginning to wear new looks, courtesy of ongoing reconstruction and retrofitting taking place, to the admittance, admiration and appreciation of Abians across board.

“In the next few days, you’ll see more inspiring pictures of massive reconstruction of building infrastructures going on in different parts of the state.In an exclusive interview he granted some years ago, Governor Alex Otti had this to say “At a point in your life, you start asking yourself certain important questions. You’ve made a success of your career. You can afford the life you want. But you look at where you’re coming from — your state of origin — and realise that millions couldn’t even afford the basic necessities of life. You asked further questions: “There have been governments in this state for 16 years from 1999. Sixteen years of democracy, of civilian rule. Why are the people not better for it? Why is there still large scale poverty? Then it was 16 years, now it’s getting to 24 years.”You then ask even further questions: “Knowing that you’re privileged, would you want to just live for yourself and family alone when you can actually live for more people and help improve their lives?” There’s a limit to how far your personal resources can go. Since successive administrations in the state were unable to improve the lives of our people, I decided to go do that myself. This was why I got into politics —to carry out one of the basic functions of government, which is the welfare of the people.”

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Video – MOUAU VC, SPEAKS ON NELFUND, PLANS TO DEVELOP UNI

Published

5 days ago

July 24, 2026

csunews

Stephanie Clems, Umuahia

The vice chancellor of Michael Okpara university of Agriculture, Prof. Ursula Akanwa has explained circumstances surrounding the directive to refund students who made payments before release of their loans by federal government.

Watch:

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Governor Otti orders immediate removal of bottlenecks stalling NYSC allowance implementation

Published

2 weeks ago

July 15, 2026

csunews

By Editor, Umuahia

The Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti has directed the immediate removal of administrative bottlenecks delaying the implementation of the approved allowances of the members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) serving in Abia State.

Governor Otti gave the directive in his office, on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, while receiving a delegation of the new state coordinator of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Mr. Yunusa Tanimu.

Governor Otti, who expressed surprise that the payment has not started, noted that he had approved the payment and made adequate provisions for its payment, and directed the commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, who was present at the visit to liaise with the Head of Service and ensure immediate implementation.

” I am surprised that the extra allowance that I approved had not been implemented. I am surprised about that.

“Please, can you (Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development) ensure that whatever it is, it has to be dealt with immediately.

“Because the last time, I was told, it’s about BVN, and I’m sure I tried to solve it. So, if there is any other problem, please, can you get the Head of Service to solve it?

“So, I already have given the approval, and we have made provisions for it. So, if it’s not been implemented, it’s of no use to us. It’s already provided for.

“So I’m surprised to hear that it hasn’t been done. I knew about the time when we argued about BVN, and I stepped in and resolved it.
“That was before you (new State Coordinator) came,” Gov. Otti stated.

The Governor, while thanking the State Coordinator for identifying with him, and for seeing himself as an Abia indigene, noted that anyone who lives and does business in Abia state is regarded as an indigene of the state as there is no state of origin in Abia State under his administration.

“So, I want to welcome you, and assure you that this State is happy to have you. You can feel free, and go anywhere. Our people are hospitable people, and we love visitors too,” he said.

The Governor, appreciated the contributions of the NYSC members to the success of his government, adding that, “they are teaching in schools or in their hospitals. And we believe that whatever we can do to make their stay comfortable, we will do.

Earlier in his address, the new state coordinator of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) , Alhaji Yanusa Tanimu said he came to familiarise with the Governor having assumed duty.

Alhaji Tanimu appealed for the full and expeditious implementation of the state allowance approved for corps members in Abia State .

He congratulated the Governor, on his numerous accomplishments in the state, especially in the areas of infrastructural development as well as other policies and projects that are geared towards advancing the economic prosperity, peace and stability of the State.

“I am pleased to place on record the fact that NYSC is a beneficiary of the people-oriented strides of the Abia State Government under your purposeful leadership.

“Today, I stand here to once again express our profound gratitude for the following remarkable gestures: comprehensive renovation of corps members’ hostels and multi-purpose hall at the NYSC permanent orientation camp, Umunna, construction of internal roads in the camp, provision of solar-powered street lights in the camp, approval of funds for the augmentation of corps members’ feeding, fueling of power generators and other logistics for the conduct of orientation courses, approval of enhanced allowance for corps members serving in the state and provision of new office accommodation for the NYSC secretariat in the state capital.

“In addition, we have been reliably informed that His Excellency has approved funds for the supply of furniture to the new office,” Alhaji Tanimu said.

He assured the Governor that, NYSC remains committed to contributing to the progress and development of Abia State and Nigeria.

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Abia governance: Catholic church honours governor Otti as he assures of total recovery of commercial city

Published

1 month ago

June 19, 2026

csunews

Stephanie Clems, Umuahia

The Catholic Diocese of Aba has celebrated and honoured the governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Chioma Otti for his empatheticand humane disposition in leadership.

The church during a special Sunday Mass at Christ the King Catholic Church, CKC, Aba, on Sunday, June 14, 2026 openly extolled the feats of the governor since assuming office in 2023.

Delivering his homily, the bishop of Aba Diocese, Most Rev. Professor Augustine Echema, said leadership and power must be about the people.

Taking his text from Matthew 9:36, he noted that the Lord Jesus Christ was moved with compassion for the crowd because their leadership had failed them.

He likened governor Otti to a leader with passion and pity for Abia people, stating that the governor needed no campaign.

“We have a man of integrity and nobody needs to campaign for governor Otti, his works will campaign for him.

“You are worth supporting. This is the first time the Catholic Diocese of Aba is honouring a governor,” bishop Echema said.

He thanked Governor Otti for wiping the tears of Abia people and for proving that government is truly about the people.

The Bishop also urged all Catholic faithful to take advantage of the ongoing voters’ registration exercise to obtain their PVCs to exercise their civic responsibility during elections.

The laity comprising the three statutory bodies of the church, CMO, CWO, and CYON, took turns to appreciate the governor for “his excellent and people centered leadership.”

They described him as a “silent achiever” who had touched the lives of ordinary Abia residents especially in Aba, recalling the years of suffering before his emergence due to lack of access roads.

Each body presented the governor with special gifts.

In his response, Governor Otti thanked the Church and its organs for the rare and generous endorsement.

“Even if you pay the Catholic Church a billion dollars, they will not do the wrong thing. This is your government and we will never disappoint you,” the governor reassured.

Governor Otti pledged to continue working for the people of Abia State and gave assurances on the next phase of his administration.

“You ain’t seen nothing yet. We have just dealt with the hygiene issues – cleaning up the environment, roads, water, etc. We are now focusing more on Healthcare, Education, Technology, Industrialization and others.

“We will soon embark on the complete recovery of Aba by flagging off the reconstruction of Uratta Road and Old Express. Any project we can’t find the money for, we don’t start. We have found the money. It is in the bank, and the flag-off will happen soon,” Governor Otti said.

The Governor also promised support for the ongoing CMO Secretariat Project and other projects by CWO and CYON which represent the men, women, and youths of the church.