) Gov. Alex Otti of Abia says the state has completed the digital mapping of its entire landmass as part of efforts to modernise land administration and eliminate fraud in property transactions.
Otti disclosed this on Thursday during a media chat in Umuahia, adding that the exercise was carried out in partnership with UN-Habitat.
According to him, the digital mapping project will pave the way for a fully digitised land administration system in the state.
“We have completed the digital mapping of the entire state. The UN-Habitat worked with us on that.
“Going forward, everything about land administration will be digitised.
“The stories of people being duped, deceived or scammed in the process of acquiring land will become a thing of the past once everything is on a digital platform,” the governor said.
He said that the state had so far issued 4,923 Certificates of Occupancy (C of Os), with close to 1,000 issued this year alone.
He said that the certificates would enable landowners to establish legal ownership and use their property documents for business and other legitimate transactions.
On housing, Otti acknowledged the shortage of residential accommodation in Aba and Umuahia, saying that the government would soon flag off the construction of the Pocket Layout in Umuahia and other housing estates.
He said that the projects were aimed at increasing housing supply and supporting orderly urban development.
Speaking on the creative sector, the governor said that the administration had opened an account to receive funds promised by the First Lady, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, for women in the Akwete Cloth Cooperative.
He urged residents to promote the locally woven Akwete cloth by wearing it and purchasing it for friends and relatives in order to expand its market and ensure the industry’s sustainable growth.
Otti also said that work had commenced on the development of the Ibom Waterfalls in Arochukwu Local Government Area, while the Ojukwu Bunker project was at an advanced stage as part of efforts to boost tourism in the state.
He commended residents for embracing environmental sanitation and urged them to sustain the culture of keeping their surroundings clean.
The governor further said that the state had received another batch of 20 electric buses, adding that the government was finalising routes to expand the mass transit system.
He said that the buses had been fitted with electronic surveillance systems to monitor their operations and ensure compliance with approved routes.
On the Abia Airport Project, Otti said that work was progressing steadily, adding that Phase One was nearing completion while preparations for the next phase were underway.
He also commended security agencies for maintaining peace across the state.
Otti reemphasised the state government’s commitment towards ensuring safety of lives and property in the state.
He stressed that the state had emerged as the third most improved state in Nigeria in the 2026 Phillips Consulting State Performance Index (pSPI), attributing the feat to sustained investments in critical sectors.
He said that Abia had risen from 36th position in the 2023 ranking to 10th in 2025 and now occupies the third position in the 2026 pSPI.
“The most important assessment for me is how citizens rate their state. You can implement numerous projects, but if the impact is not felt by the people, then you have achieved very little,” he said.
The governor said the state had recorded significant progress in healthcare, including a drastic reduction in maternal and infant mortality.
He said that as of the end of the first quarter of 2026, Abia ranked among the best-performing states in the country in reducing maternal and infant mortality.
Otti also said the state had recorded no cases of Lassa Fever despite outbreaks in several parts of the country, while enrolment into the Abia State Health Insurance Scheme continued to increase.
According to him, 144 of the 200 Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) under Project Ekwueme have been fully functionalised, with another 30 expected to become operational before the end of August.
He said that the functionalisation process involved complete renovation of facilities, installation of equipment and deployment of qualified health personnel.
The governor noted that the Cottage Hospital at Abayi, Aba, had commenced operations and would soon be inaugurated, while the General Hospitals at Obingwa and Arochukwu had been equipped and were ready for commissioning.
He added that rehabilitation work was ongoing at the Abia State University Teaching Hospital (ABSUTH), the Specialist Hospital at Umunnato and Amachara.
Otti said that 700 of the 891 medical personnel approved for recruitment had resumed duty, while additional workers would be employed as more hospitals became operational.
He said that the government also planned to reopen previously closed general hospitals in Oke Ikpe, Umunneochi, Isiala Ngwa North and other locations.
The governor disclosed that work had commenced on rebuilding the General Hospital, Ohafia, after the previous structure was demolished due to structural defects.
On education, Otti said the government had commissioned two of the 20 Smart Schools under construction across the state, with the remaining schools to be inaugurated in phases.
He said that the schools were designed to combine conventional teaching with digital learning to prepare pupils for emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, robotics and 3D printing.
According to him, the initiative was aimed at equipping children with relevant digital skills from an early age to enable them compete globally.
Speaking on infrastructure, Otti said road construction had slowed because of the heavy rains but noted that work was progressing steadily on major projects.
He said that the drainage tunnel at Obohia, Aba, would channel stormwater into the Aba River and permanently address flooding in the area.
The governor said that the ongoing drainage projects focused on improved flood control across the state, to ensure floodwaters receded quickly after rainfall despite heavy downpours experienced. (NAN)
