Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to financial prudence, stating that the state will only resort to borrowing when it becomes absolutely necessary.
Governor Otti made this declaration on Wednesday in Umuahia during a public lecture held to mark the second anniversary of his administration. The lecture was delivered by Dr. Kalu Idika Kalu, a former Minister of Finance.
Responding to key points raised in the lecture, Otti emphasized that reckless borrowing has no place in his government’s fiscal strategy. According to him, any loans taken must be justified by genuine needs and tied to value-driven projects.
“We will only borrow when it is absolutely necessary,” Otti said. “There must be discipline and financial responsibility in government. We are committed to building a stronger Abia, and that begins with sound economic decisions.”
He also highlighted his administration’s commitment to prompt payment of salaries and pensions, noting that paying workers made better economic sense than allowing funds to sit idle in bank accounts.
Looking ahead, the governor promised to dedicate the remaining two years of his tenure to deepening the reforms already initiated.
“We shall commit the remaining two years of this term to institutionalizing the reforms that have been started,” he said. “Together, we will position Abia as a center of transformative thinking. We will continue to embrace new ideas, because growth and progress come through innovation.”
Governor Otti expressed his appreciation to Dr. Kalu for honoring the invitation to deliver the anniversary lecture, which was titled “Two Years of Transformation: Sustaining the Momentum.” He said the event was organized to encourage honest self-assessment and to chart a path for continuous improvement.
Dr. Kalu, in his lecture, supported the idea of strategic borrowing, stating that loans are not inherently harmful when used to fund projects that generate long-term value for the state.
“Borrowing can be a tool for growth, provided it is done wisely and in the interest of the people,” he noted.
He also urged Governor Otti to give the media a prominent role in his development strategy, citing its potential to drive societal change.
“The media must not be sidelined,” Kalu said. “They should be empowered to play major roles, not minor ones, in our development narrative. The media can help bring this nation back to life.”
The former minister commended the Otti administration for its visible infrastructure projects, both completed and ongoing. He called on the government to remain guided by the rule of law and to lead by example in promoting good governance.
Kalu further stressed the need to tackle impunity, warning that no society can claim to be modern or progressive while tolerating lawlessness.
“A modern society cannot thrive where impunity goes unpunished,” he said.
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