Governor Alex Otti Plans to Increase Local Government Areas in Abia for Efficient Service Delivery

Governor Alex Otti of Abia State has announced plans to increase the number of local government areas in the state, emphasizing that this move is crucial for enhancing administrative convenience and ensuring efficient service delivery to the grassroots. He made the disclosure over the weekend during a civic reception in honor of two prominent sons of the state, Dr. Monday Ubani, SAN, and Chief Davidson Alaribe, held at Awomukwu Ikwuano Local Government Area.

Governor Otti explained that increasing the number of local governments in Abia has become a critical priority for his administration. While responding to requests from the Ikwuano people, Otti highlighted that some of the existing local government areas in Abia are too large to manage effectively and should be divided to enhance the efficiency of governance.

“We have to restructure the state for better service delivery,” Otti said, adding that some areas, like Ikwuano, are geographically vast and should not remain as single local governments. “We are going to do everything possible to ensure that the right thing is done.”

He reassured the people that splitting the local governments would not divide communities but was aimed at improving administrative processes. The current structure of Abia State comprises 17 local government areas, and it is expected that the governor will explore creating new Development Centres (DCs) to address the issue. Several states have used this model due to the lack of constitutional authority for creating new local governments.

In addition to the local government reforms, Otti pledged to fix critical infrastructure in Ikwuano, including the Ariam-Usaka Road. He emphasized that his administration would work collaboratively with elected officials, including Senator Austin Akobundu, to ensure the completion of the road project, which has been included in the 2025 federal budget. “We will ensure the road is fixed this year, even if it requires additional funding from the state,” Otti assured the Ikwuano people.

Further, the governor announced plans to provide potable water to Abia communities in 2025 through the direct labour policy, which has already proven effective in road construction and maintenance. Otti revealed that the state government had acquired a high-capacity industrial drilling rig capable of drilling up to 200 meters in an hour, which would be deployed across the state to provide clean water to various communities.

As part of his commitment to the development of Abia, Otti assured the people of Ikwuano that they would greatly benefit from the state’s 2025 water project, which will include the installation of pipe-borne water in various communities.

In his remarks, Senator Austin Akobundu, who chaired the event, praised Governor Otti’s inclusive leadership and his efforts to prioritize the state’s development over political differences. Akobundu, who represents Abia Central in the National Assembly on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), expressed full support for Otti’s initiatives and emphasized the need for collaboration among all political leaders to advance the interests of Abia State.

Otti’s administration continues to push for reforms aimed at improving the quality of life for Abia’s residents, with a focus on infrastructure, water supply, and efficient governance.