The Abia State Government is set to launch the pilot phase of a Bio-Gas programme aimed at converting waste into clean, renewable energy for residents of the state.
Governor Alex Otti disclosed this on January 29, 2026, during the year’s first Media Parley tagged “Governor Otti Speaks,” held at the Banquet Hall of the Government House, Umuahia.
He said the pilot project would take off at the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike.
According to the governor, the initiative aligns with the administration’s broader energy reform agenda, which seeks to promote sustainability and reduce dependence on conventional power sources.
Governor Otti further explained that the Abia State Electricity Regulatory Authority had formally taken over electricity regulation in the state from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), a move he said would guarantee energy independence and improve power supply.
“The idea is to ensure that Abia becomes self-sufficient in energy generation, regulation and distribution,” Otti said, adding that the new regulatory framework would attract investment and enhance service delivery.
On housing, the governor said his administration had concluded arrangements to address the growing housing deficit in Umuahia, the state capital.
He announced that construction would soon commence on the Pocket Layout Housing Project for civil servants, alongside two new housing estates within the metropolis.
Commitment to health
In the health sector, Governor Otti reiterated his administration’s commitment to affordable and accessible healthcare.
He noted that significant progress had already been made under the first phase of Project Ekwueme.
“Two hundred Primary Health Care Centres across the state have been renovated and equipped with ultra-modern facilities.”
He stressed that the reforms were aimed at strengthening healthcare delivery at the grassroots.
The governor also spoke on education, assuring residents that his government remained committed to making quality education accessible and affordable to all.
He revealed that reconstruction and upgrade projects were ongoing in several educational institutions to bring them up to acceptable standards.
Governor Otti announced a sharp increase in enrolment in public schools following recent reforms, citing data from the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education.
“School enrolment has risen from about 117,000 pupils a year ago to over 300,000 as at the end of December 2025,” Otti said.
In the area of transportation, the governor disclosed that the state government had extended the free services of the pilot Electric Green Shuttle buses to the end of February 2026, as part of efforts to promote affordable and environmentally friendly urban mobility.
Governor Otti assured journalists that his administration would sustain its reform drive across key sectors to improve the living standards of Abia residents.
