‘N9.8bn Was Paid In 2017 Without Work’ – Otti Speaks After Completing Major Road
…Rewards Honest Keke Rider For Returning Cash
Governor Alex Otti of Abia State has revealed that the sum of N9.8bn was disbursed in 2017 for the reconstruction of the Port Harcourt Road in Aba—yet no work was ever carried out.
Governor Otti made the shocking disclosure during the “Promise Kept Carnival” held at Umuagbai Secondary School, Port Harcourt Road, Aba. The event, attended by a cross-section of dignitaries, government officials, business leaders, and residents, marked the formal celebration of the completion of the once-abandoned road project, which had been neglected for more than three decades.
“In 2017, this road was awarded for N9.8bn and the entire sum was paid. But not a single stone was turned. Nothing was done. It is both disheartening and shameful,” Governor Otti declared.
“We decided not to dwell on the past but to correct it. And in 2025, we have completed this road at N36.5 billion. Now let’s talk about value: In 2017, N9.8bn at N333 to a dollar amounted to about $29 million. In 2025, N36.5 billion at N1,600 to the dollar is around $22.8 million.
“We spent less in dollar terms and delivered a world-class road. That is what accountability and integrity mean.”
The Governor used the occasion to reward exemplary civic behaviour. In an emotional moment, he presented a cheque of N1.4 million to Mr. Emmanuel Obodoezie, an Aba-based tricycle (keke) rider who had recently returned N2.4 million forgotten in his vehicle by a passenger.
“What Mr. Obodoezie did is a rare act of integrity. In a time when many would have seen such a sum as a windfall, he chose honesty. This is the kind of value system we want to promote in Abia State. Emmanuel has reminded us that integrity still lives among us.”
The crowd erupted in applause as Mr. Obodoezie took the stage, visibly moved and grateful for the unexpected recognition.
Governor Otti reiterated that his administration will continue to support and reward honest and responsible citizens, stating: “We will stand by people who uphold the values of integrity, accountability, and community service. Abia must rise, and it will rise through the strength of character of its people.”
In further announcements aimed at modernising Abia’s public transport system, the Governor revealed that the state had fully paid for 20 electric buses, which will be delivered and deployed within the next two months. According to him, new modern bus terminals are also under construction in key parts of the state to support the rollout.
“We are not just reconstructing roads; we are redesigning the way Abians move. These buses are 100% electric, similar to what you see in advanced countries. No petrol, no diesel, no gasoline. It’s the future of transport, and we are embracing it now,” he said.
The event drew goodwill messages from prominent stakeholders. Senator Darlington Nwokocha commended the Governor for his “visionary leadership and courage to confront long standing infrastructural decay.”
“The Port Harcourt Road project is more than just asphalt and concrete—it is a statement. A statement that Abia is ready for transformation, and Governor Otti is the leader to deliver it,” Senator Nwokocha noted.
Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Emmanuel Emeruwa, echoed similar sentiments, describing the road project as “a turning point in the history of Aba.”
Representing the Aba business community and Landlords’ Association, Chief David Ogba Onuoha, Chief Leo Nnodi Okoye, Chief Alphonsus Odigbo, and Ide John Udeagba jointly described the completed road as “Governor Otti’s signature achievement.”
“He has already completed his political campaign for re-election through his performance. What else is there to say? We stand with a leader who performs, not one who promises,” Chief Onuoha stated.
Chief Onyeka Ernest Udeajah, convener of the carnival, praised the event as “a celebration of renewal, restoration, and good governance.”
“This road, once a symbol of abandonment, is now a symbol of God’s goodness and of purposeful leadership. It is a new dawn for Aba,” Udeajah said.
Also speaking to THE WHISTLER, the State Chairman of the Cooperative Motor Union, Mr. Chukwuma Azodo, lauded the project as “legendary” and highlighted the improvement it has brought to ease of movement and commerce in the city.
The Promise Kept Carnival featured vibrant cultural parades, performances from talented Aba-born musicians, and touching moments—including when Simon Victory, a student of Umuagbai Secondary School, read a moving address to the Governor and had the honour of a handshake and photo with him, drawing warm applause from the crowd.
The event underscored a central message: that progress, integrity, and people-focused leadership are not just possible—they are happening in Abia.
‘N9.8bn Was Paid In 2017 Without Work’ – Otti Speaks After Completing Major Road is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
