Otti approves establishment of SME Village, Innovation Hub in Aba as EFCC probes alleged N10bn Abia airport fraud

Governor Alex Otti of Abia has said that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is investigating the alleged misappropriation of N10 billion purportedly spent for a non-existent Abia Airport by the previous administration.

He said “The Abia State Government has approved the establishment of an SME Village and Innovation Hub in Aba to boost small and medium-scale enterprises.

He said that the hub would serve as a centre for enhanced productivity and innovation.

He also said that the facility would serve as a center for sale and repair of computers and mobile phones.

Mr Otti said that it would strengthen the capacity of local entrepreneurs and expressed optimism that collaboration with the Export Group Lab at Ogbonnaya Onu Polytechnic would help to strengthen the initiative.

He  said that the state government had taken a principled stand to support SMEs in the state and that land had already been acquired for the project.

He noted that the state government had completed the acquisition of Afro Beverages from Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria and begun receiving expressions of interest from prospective investors.

The governor also said that similar investor interest was being recorded for Star Paper Mill in Owerrinta, adding that government preferred competent private sector operators to manage the firms sustainably.
According to him, the objective is to restore industrial operations, create employment opportunities and prevent the companies from collapsing again.

He said that his administration had petitioned EFCC regarding the alleged looted funds meant for Abia Airport.

He expressed the confidence that the money would be recovered, saying that the people involved would return the funds “at the appropriate time”.
A forensic audit revealed that N10 billion, allocated for the airport project by Okezie Ikpeazu’s government, was misappropriated.

The audit report further disclosed that the funds were transferred to 32 different accounts. Mr Otti said that his administration was focused on recovering the looted funds to ensure good governance and development in Abia.

He said, “We are still on it and I’m sure that at the appropriate time they will bring back the money.”

The governor also announced subsidised fares for the recently launched Electric Bus Services on two major routes in the state.

According to him, commuters will henceforth pay N800 from Umuahia to Aba, while from Umuahia to Ohafia will cost N1,000.

“It is going to be cheap and organised in such a way that cash will not be accepted. You have to pay with your ATM card, because we need to move up the ladder in our digital transformation, that’s where the world is going,” Mr Otti said.

On the Nsulu Airport project, Mr Otti said that compensation payments resumed on 23 February, with over 4,000 of nearly 10,000 claimants already paid.

He assured the people of transparency, saying that names of claimants were published and works were proceeding without interruption. He also said that the reconstruction of  the over 50-decade-old Enyimba Hotel, Aba into the Radisson Blu Enyimba International Hotel had begun.

The governor further said that the hotel would have 250 rooms, an international convention centre, and a leisure park, when completed, describing it as a transformative investment for the state.

On power, the governor said that serious efforts were being made to restore power supply in the Ohafia, Bende, and Ukwa East LGAs.

He also said that plans were on to acquire a majority stake from EEDC and wheel electricity from Geometric into Umuahia, while the Etche Community in Rivers successfully transitioned from Port Harcourt DisCo supply to Geometric.

Mr Otti said that the Sexual Assault Referral Centre, recently set up in Aba, was also planned for Umuahia and Ohafia to protect victims and promote social reorientation against sexual assault.

He said that security remained his administration’s top priority, adding that collaboration with security agencies had ensured that no part of Abia fell under non-state control.