Governor Dr. Alex Otti has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to revitalizing the healthcare sector in Abia State, announcing plans to award contracts for the retrofitting of 22 Secondary Healthcare Centres across the 17 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state. This initiative, he revealed, is part of a broader strategy to improve healthcare infrastructure, ensuring optimal service delivery for residents.
Speaking at the first edition of the Governor’s media engagement for the year 2025, titled Governor Otti Speaks to Abians, the Governor disclosed that his administration has allocated over sixteen billion naira (₦16.6 billion) for the renovation and upgrade of both Secondary and Tertiary Healthcare Institutions in the state. This, he emphasized, is a deliberate effort to strengthen the healthcare system and provide quality medical care to the people of Abia.
Governor Otti highlighted that the process of awarding contracts for the renovation and retrofitting of 22 General Hospitals and Secondary Healthcare Centres is in its final stages. He acknowledged the deplorable condition of some health facilities, such as those in Umunneato, Okeikpe, Obingwa, Okpualangwa, and Arochukwu, noting that urgent intervention is required. According to him, procurement processes have already commenced for four of the worst-affected hospitals, including Okeikpe, Obingwa, and Ohafia, with contracts expected to be awarded in the coming week.
“In the next one week, I am sure we will award this contract because we believe that Health is Wealth,” Governor Otti assured. He reiterated that the contracts for the remaining healthcare centres would follow soon, as the government remains committed to upgrading the entire healthcare infrastructure of the state. The Governor further disclosed that part of the ₦16.6 billion budget allocation for 2025 will be used to upgrade schools of Midwifery, Nursing, and other healthcare training institutions across Abia State. This, he explained, is to address the shortage of trained medical personnel and ensure an efficient healthcare system that is accessible to all residents.
“We will continue to commit resources to the healthcare sector. We have about ₦16.6 billion provided for in the current year budget to bring the institutions up to standard. “We want to complete that this year so that we will be able to train our nurses and healthcare professionals. It is a major area of need and a major challenge we must tackle,” Governor Otti stated. He emphasized that the state’s long-term plan is to make Abia a hub for medical excellence, where residents can receive quality healthcare without the need to travel out of the state or country.
Governor Otti noted that his administration’s commitment to quality, accessible, and affordable healthcare services led to the launch of Project Ekwueme, a large-scale upgrade and retrofitting of 200 Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) across the 184 wards in Abia State. He expressed satisfaction with the progress made so far, revealing that five PHCs within Abia Central are now fully renovated and awaiting commissioning.
“I’m glad to report that we have continued to make progress. We are not where we want to be, but we are making an impact in the healthcare sector,” Governor Otti said. He further explained that even before the official flag-off of Project Ekwueme, work had already commenced in some healthcare centres, with positive results already being recorded. “Interestingly, even before we flagged off, some of the healthcare centres had already started receiving attention. Five Primary Healthcare Centres are ready for commissioning. So, I’m glad we have five in Abia Central ready for commissioning,” he added.
Beyond infrastructural development, Governor Otti also addressed the pressing issue of counterfeit drugs and fake products in Aba, a menace that has tarnished the reputation of the state’s business sector. Reacting to a question about the proliferation of fake goods, the Governor announced that his administration would take decisive action against manufacturers of counterfeit products. He vowed to continue from where the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) stopped, ensuring that Aba markets are rid of fake goods that endanger lives and damage the state’s reputation.
“The manufacturing of fake products in our state is an embarrassment, and we must put an end to it. I encourage local manufacturers involved in such practices to desist and instead develop their own brands,” Governor Otti declared. The Governor made it clear that while his administration supports local manufacturing, it will not tolerate the illegal production and misrepresentation of branded products. “I do not have a problem with you making your own product, but I have a problem with you faking the product of someone else and trying to pass it as the original version.
“So, we are going to come down very hard on manufacturers of fake products because they are giving us a bad name, and that is not good. Our people are industrious and making a lot of things in Aba,” he stressed. He further revealed that he has instructed government officials to work closely with NAFDAC to intensify enforcement efforts against counterfeiters. “I have directed my people in government to ensure that we continue from where NAFDAC stopped. So, we encourage them to make their products and call them their names instead of faking other people’s products, or we will raid and stop them in their tracks,” Governor Otti warned.
Governor Otti urged business owners interested in manufacturing to obtain proper registration and certification from NAFDAC. He emphasized the importance of compliance with regulatory standards, noting that doing so would help local businesses gain legitimacy and expand their markets. He cited examples of countries like China and Japan, which started by selling locally manufactured products at competitive prices before gaining global acceptance. “The key to success is originality and quality. Those who are into manufacturing should take ownership of their products and go through the proper registration process. That is how businesses grow and become internationally recognized,” he advised.
Governor Otti’s announcements reflect his administration’s broader vision of creating a healthier and more prosperous Abia State. By investing heavily in healthcare infrastructure, training institutions, and enforcement against counterfeit products, his government is taking significant steps toward improving the overall well-being of the people. His unwavering commitment to ensuring that Abia’s healthcare system functions optimally and that businesses operate with integrity underscores his dedication to sustainable development.
As contracts for hospital renovations are awarded and enforcement efforts against fake products intensify, residents of Abia State can look forward to a future where quality healthcare services are readily available, and local businesses thrive through honest and innovative practices.