Governor Otti made the revelation during the May edition of the monthly media interaction programme, “Governor Alex Otti Speaks To Abians,” while highlighting his administration’s achievements in fiscal management, transparency, and accountability.
According to the Governor, Abia State’s debt profile, which stood at about ₦191 billion in 2023, has been reduced to less than ₦50 billion by the end of 2025 through prudent financial management and disciplined governance.
Dr. Otti also noted that the state has continued to receive positive independent assessments in areas of fiscal sustainability, transparency, and accountability.
He cited the BudgIT State of States Report, which moved Abia State from the 17th position in 2023 to the 4th position in 2025 among states in Nigeria, describing the ranking as evidence of responsible governance and financial reforms under his administration.
“These are independent rankings, and they give you an idea of how the government is being run,” the Governor stated.
Governor Otti further remarked that ongoing reforms and efforts to block financial leakages may naturally attract resistance from individuals who previously benefited from what he described as “primitive accumulation.”
“You also expect a lot of pushback from people who depended on primitive accumulation and cut off. So sometimes when you see people complaining and pouring libation, it is probably because the amounts have been removed from the feeding bottle,” he added.
The Governor reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to maintaining fiscal discipline, prudent management of public resources, and transparent governance aimed at improving the welfare of Abians and repositioning the state economically.
