Otti guarantees support for security agencies

Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has pledged increased support for security agencies as the ember months begin, urging residents to remain vigilant and provide timely information to aid crime prevention.

Speaking during his monthly media interaction on Thursday, Otti commended the police, army, DSS, and other agencies for keeping the state relatively peaceful.

He noted that the state government would continue to provide logistical support to make their work easier.

“We will continue to support the police, the army and the DSS with little things to make their lives easier. We are also renovating and expanding the prison, not because we expect more criminals to be sent there, but to strengthen the system,” he said.

The governor warned that the ember months often come with heightened security challenges, stressing the need for collective responsibility.

“A large part of the success in security is information. We have our ways of gathering intelligence, but citizen support through timely information is very helpful,” he added.

On the detention of IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu, Otti revealed that Southeast governors were engaging with the Federal Government to secure his release.

“As his governor, I am in the forefront of ensuring that he comes back. But the assurances we are getting are not for public consumption,” he said.

Otti also decried the vandalism of schools by youths in the state, disclosing that the government has concluded plans to recruit four security staff for each school.

On infrastructure, the governor announced that the reconstruction of the Umuahia–Ikot Ekpene federal road would soon commence, while President Bola Tinubu is expected in Aba next week to commission several completed road projects.

Addressing concerns raised by host communities of the Abia Airport project, Otti admitted that some genuine landowners were omitted from compensation payments, while others had incomplete documentation.

He promised that the issues were being addressed, including errors by the contractor.

The governor further highlighted his administration’s progress across key sectors, assuring citizens of additional development projects in the months ahead.