Abia Defrays N90bn Of N191bn Inherited Debt

Governor Alex Otti of Abia State has said his administration had defrayed about N90 billion of the N191 billion debt it inherited on assumption of office last year.

Otti stated this at his monthly media chat in Umuahia, the state capital yesterday, adding that the administration had not borrowed any money.

“Yet, we have continued to fix roads, provide quality healthcare, renovate and upgrade schools and tackle insecurity among others,” he said.

He added that the administration planned to introduce electric buses in the state for both intra and inter city transportation to cushion the effects of removal of fuel subsidy.

The governor announced that his administration would ensure the arrest and prosecution of suspected pension fraud syndicates in the state.

According to him, as soon as the administration gathers enough evidence and information about them, it would take action, irrespective of who is involved.

Otti said some opposition members had been castigating the administration on air against its decision to investigate, arrest and prosecute the suspects.

“We will continue with our efforts to sanitise the civil service. I’m sure you would have heard some reports about some civil servants who were involved in pension frauds.

“From the report I got, about 10 or 11 of them, some of them are outside the country. We are going to repatriate them to answer to their sins,” he said.