20 electric buses, ₦36.5bn road, and damning facts on past mismanagement. Governor Otti pulls no punches. What really happened? Click to read full story.
Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has intensified his administration’s infrastructure overhaul with the announcement of 20 new electric buses for public transportation—while simultaneously pulling back the curtain on what he described as the shameful misuse of public funds by his predecessors in the failed Port Harcourt Road project.
Speaking at the ‘Promise Kept Carnival’ in Aba, an event organized in his honour for successfully reconstructing the long-abandoned Port Harcourt Road, Governor Otti revealed that his government has not only built functional road infrastructure with less foreign exchange equivalence than the past administration but is also setting the tone for a modern, eco-friendly transportation system.
According to the Governor, the first phase of Abia’s rebranded transport network includes the deployment of 20 electric buses within the next two months, along with the completion of world-class bus terminals already under construction.
“We have paid for the 20 electric buses. They are on their way. These buses will not run on petrol, diesel, or gasoline. They are fully electric—just like the ones you see in developed countries. That’s the kind of transport system we are bringing to Abia,” Otti stated to an excited crowd at Umuagbai Secondary School.
However, the Governor’s disclosures went beyond new projects. In a blistering comparison, Otti confronted critics and opposition figures who had questioned the ₦36.5 billion cost of reconstructing Port Harcourt Road. He responded with a direct financial analysis, contrasting his administration’s expenditure with that of the previous government, which reportedly spent ₦9.8 billion on the same road project in 2017 without delivering results.
“In 2017, they awarded the Port Harcourt Road contract for ₦9.8 billion and paid it in full. Nothing was done. Fast forward to 2025, we completed the road at ₦36.5 billion. They shouted about the cost, but here’s the truth: ₦9.8 billion in 2017 was equivalent to $29 million. At today’s exchange rate of ₦1,600 to a dollar, ₦36.5 billion is about $22.8 million,” he explained.
Otti emphasized that while his administration delivered a high-quality road with a lower dollar value, the past administration failed despite spending more in real terms.
“So let’s do the math. $29 million spent in 2017 produced no road. $22.8 million in 2025 produced a standard road. That’s the reality. And that’s the difference between leadership and failure,” the Governor added.
He reiterated that his administration would continue to respond to political distractions and criticism with concrete achievements rather than rhetoric. “We ignore them. We respond with performance,” he stated.
The event also became an opportunity to showcase the human face of governance. Governor Otti awarded ₦1.4 million to a commercial tricycle driver in Aba who returned ₦2.4 million forgotten by a passenger—applauding him as an example of the moral character and honesty Abians are known for.
The carnival, filled with colourful performances from Aba-born artists, was graced by dignitaries across political and business sectors. Key figures who delivered goodwill messages included Senator Darlington Nwokocha and Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Emmanuel Emeruwa, both of whom lauded the Governor’s achievements in less than two years in office.
The Aba business community and Landlords’ Association, represented by Chief David Ogba Onuoha, Chief Leo Nnodi Okoye, Chief Alphonsus Odigbo, and Ide John Udeagba, described the Governor’s intervention on Port Harcourt Road as a turning point for the city. According to them, the successful delivery of the road stands above all other infrastructural projects and is a visible testament to a leadership style rooted in transparency, vision, and results.
“Governor Otti has already completed his re-election campaign with this one road. We put this carnival together to show appreciation and to pass a vote of confidence,” said Chief Onyeka Ernest Udeajah, convener of the event.
Mr. Chukwuma Azodo, State Chairman of the Cooperative Motor Union, described the Port Harcourt Road as a “legendary feat,” noting that the Governor’s projects have made mobility and commerce in Aba significantly easier.
The Governor’s disclosures have not only reignited the debate around public fund mismanagement in past administrations but also strengthened his image as a performance-driven leader with a clear vision for a sustainable and modern Abia State.
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