Renewed Hope media tour reveals gains of Tinubu, Otti’s collaboration in Abia

By Ayorinde Oluokun

Abia State is the only state outside of the fold of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC visited so far in the ongoing national media tour of projects by a group of over 50 journalists led by the presidential media team under the aegis of Renewed Hope Ambassadors. However, the difference in party platform has not affected the relationship between the central government and Governor’s Alex Otti led state government as the media team discovered when they arrived at Umuahia, the state capital. This was also emphasized by Abia Commissioner for Information, Okey Kanu while speaking at a reception organized to welcome the media team. While noting that the media tour organized by Renewed Hope Ambassadors promotes transparency and accountability in governance, he noted that it also provides an opportunity for Nigerians to objectively assess the impact of government policies and projects on the lives of citizens.

The Commissioner added that the visit was particularly significant because it reflects the growing spirit of collaboration between the federal government and Abia government in advancing development, improving infrastructure, and enhancing the welfare of the people State.

According to him, since assuming office, Governor Otti has maintained that governance should be driven by service, results, and partnerships and this philosophy will be guided by engagement with the federal government, development partners, private sector stakeholders and various institutions to accelerate progress across critical sectors, including infrastructure, education, healthcare, security, and economic development; “The federal government’s commitment to national development through strategic investments and Abia State government’s ongoing transformation agenda under Governor Alex Otti are complementary efforts aimed at building a stronger economy, creating opportunities for our citizens, and laying a solid foundation for future generations,” Kanu said. He added that projects scheduled for inspection were visible evidence that development thrives when governments work together in the interests of the people. The Commissioner’s assertions were complimented by a video in which some of the undertakings of the federal government were itemized and shown.

This set the stage for the tour of some of the critical ongoing and completed projects of the federal and Abia State Government by the team of journalists. The projects inspected by the journalists include the 67-kilometre Umuahia-Uzuakoli-Akara-Abiriba Ohafia Road which is now renamed Joe Orukwu Way.

The road, which is now illuminated with solar streetlights links many agrarian communities of the state to Umuahia, the state capital. Abia Commissioner for Works, Otumchere Oti told journalists that the road which has now improved connectivity across over 20 communities of the state was impassable for many years before the intervention of the Otti’s administration. Journalists were also informed that to ensure quick relief for the people, the Otti’s administration had awarded the road project to three construction companies that worked simultaneously to ensure timely delivery.

The media team also visited the newly constructed Omenuko Bridge the Ohafia–Umuahia corridor which was constructed to replace the previous narrow bridge over the Igwu River. Though on the federal highway, Otti decided to rebuild the bridge to stop loss of lives that was associated with the previous very narrow bridge. “The bridge is 50 meters long with 100 meters approach from both sides. Here in Abia State, the Governor makes no difference between states and federal roads, once construction the road will improve the living conditions of the people, he goes ahead to construct the road. There is also one deadly spot we passed which is the Umuri bridge, the Governor also constructed that. Tt’s on federal road, but Abia government has to do it so that we can have connectivity across the state,” said the Commissioner for Works.

Abia government officials added that because of his relationship with President Tinubu, Otti always got approval whenever he needed such to intervene on federal roads for the benefit of his people. Other completed road projects visited by the media team during the tour include the 30-kilometre Ozu-Abam-Ndiokereke-Amuvi Road in Arochukwu as well as the 42-kilometre Ebem-Ohafia Road.

The media team was also at the sites of the Renewed Hope Housing Estate in Umuahia and Onuinyan Bende. The Renewed Hope Housing Estate in Umuahia is expected to deliver 1,200 housing units. In another show of his willing collaboration with the Federal Government, the Abia State Government provided the land and paid compensation to those whose lands were appropriated for the project. Managing Director of the Federal Housing Authority, Oyetunde Oladimeji Ojo, disclosed that procurement processes for the Umuahia Renewed Hope Housing project had been completed and contractors would soon commence work on site. Abia Commissioner for Lands, Chaka Chukwumerije, described Renewed Hope Housing Estate project in Bende and Umuahia as key federal interventions aimed at addressing housing needs in the state. Construction on the two sites will create jobs and boosting local economic development of Abia when commenced.

At the newly commissioned Nnenna Oti Bus Terminal in Umuahia, the media team saw the facility designed as a modern hub for improvement of traffic management in operation. According to Senior Special Assistant to Governor Otti on Transport, Obioma Nwaogbe, the terminal which was designed to support urban and intercity transportation can accommodate about 800 passengers and 360 vehicles at a time. The Otti government, he said, complemented the modern terminal with acquisition of a fleet of electric buses that have transported more than 140,000 passengers since they began operations began in May 2025. He added that additional buses are expected to be deployed for transportation of the people in the coming months.

Also speaking to the media team, Abia Commissioner for Power and Public Utilities, Ikechukwu Monday, revealed that the Otti government is on the verge of restoring electricity to communities in Ohafia town where the people have been in darkness for about eight years as a result of vandalism. To bring this into fruition, he said the administration has completed a 20-kilometre, 33KV power line from Ihechiowa in Arochukwu to Ebem, Ohafia, terminating at a newly installed 7.5MVA injection substation.

He also revealed that as part of the bid to ensure a more reliable power supply across the state, the Otti’s administration has concluded plans to acquire a majority stake in the Abia operations of the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company. This, he said would enable the government to extend stable electricity to the remaining local government areas not covered by Geometric Power Company which has been providing uninterrupted power supply to Aba.

The media team was also at the reconstructed federal road linking the Imo State boundary to the Abia Tower of Peace in Umuahia. Abia officials disclosed that 5.95-kilometres of the highway was transformed from a single carriageway into a four-lane dual carriageway, while the section from the tower into Umuahia was expanded to six lanes to accommodate increased traffic.

On the federal projects, the team visited the Abia section of the Enugu–Port Harcourt Expressway. The Federal Controller of Works in Abia State, Chidi Uwaeziozi told journalists that substantial work had been completed on the 56-kilometre section from Abia Tower to Aba, with only 4.5 kilometres remaining to be done. He revealed that the outstanding portion was redesigned into concrete pavement due to the area’s high-water table The media team also inspected ongoing reconstruction and rehabilitation works on sections of the Owerri–Abia–Imo Federal Road in Umuahia, where residents and business owners expressed satisfaction with improvements already recorded along the corridor.

Speaking during the media tour, a members of the Renewed Hope Presidential Media Team noted that Governor Otti had positioned Abia among the states recording significant progress in infrastructure, power, housing and road development. He also hailed the collaboration between the Federal Government and the Abia State Government for the benefit of the people, citing the ongoing airport project in the state.

“The relationship between the Federal Government and the Abia State Government is commendable and people focused. The airport project is a clear example of how both tiers of government can work together for the benefit of the people,” Dare said.