Otti Urges Cabinet to Remain Focused on New Abia Agenda at First Quarter Retreat

Governor Alex Otti has charged members of the State Executive Council and other political appointees to remain steadfast and committed to the spirit of the New Abia agenda, as the administration convened its two-day First Quarter Retreat.

Declaring the retreat open, Otti said his government had delivered democracy dividends to the people on a significant scale, with visible improvements in social and economic conditions across the state. The retreat, organised by the Abia State Government, is themed “Accelerating Progress: Unlocking New Opportunities.”

While acknowledging progress made so far, the governor urged his team not to lose focus or become distracted by political developments in the state. He noted that 2026 would be a demanding year for the administration and emphasised the need for preparation and discipline.

“My charge to you this morning is to keep doing your job with assured diligence and firm commitment to the New Abia agenda,” Otti said. “We have to stay focused. No amount of noise, whatever the decibel, can be sufficient enough to take our attention away from the developments we want to see in our educational institutions, health ecosystems and other critical sectors.”

He disclosed that the government plans to commit over one trillion naira in the current fiscal year to key sectors of the economy, stressing that the future of Abia must take precedence over all other considerations.

The governor said he had been briefed that the retreat was structured to encourage wider participation and constructive engagement. He urged participants to listen to one another respectfully and remain open-minded.

“This has not been set up to entertain personality clashes, but to focus extensively on issues with direct relevance to the welfare of our people and the future of our state,” he said, reminding appointees that they are stewards with a limited timeframe to make meaningful impact.

Otti also stressed the importance of teamwork, noting that the administration would either succeed or fail collectively. He said the value of any office holder should not be measured by budgetary allocation but by the tangible contributions made toward the state’s broader development goals.

He explained that the administration deliberately prioritised infrastructural projects in economically viable locations as part of efforts to revive the state’s economy after years of stagnation. According to him, the impact of these investments is already being felt in Aba and Umuahia by landlords, industrialists and artisans.

The governor called for a holistic evaluation framework across ministries, departments and agencies to better assess the reach of government investments and guide future policy decisions.

Earlier in his welcome address, the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Emmanuel Meribeole, described the retreat as timely, given the collective responsibility to rebuild and reposition Abia for sustainable growth.

Meribeole said that since assuming office, Governor Otti had pursued deliberate reforms across various sectors, with visible results. However, he cautioned that progress should not become a comfort zone.

“The theme challenges us to ask critical questions,” he said, adding that the retreat provides an opportunity for honest introspection, strategic alignment and performance evaluation, as well as strengthening teamwork across ministries, departments and agencies.

He emphasised that governance thrives on coordination rather than isolated efforts and encouraged participants to engage actively, share experiences, challenge assumptions constructively and embrace innovative ideas to improve service delivery.
 

The retreat featured presentations, interactive sessions and question-and-answer segments aimed at accelerating implementation of government programmes and unlocking new opportunities for development in the state.