Otti unveils 20 electric buses

Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has announced the procurement of 20 electric buses which will be rolled out in the next two months.

The governor also revealed that $29m (the equivalent of N9.8bn at the time) was spent by the immediate-past administration in the reconstruction of Port Harcourt road, which was not realised, adding that his government successfully built the road with $22m (the equivalent of N36.5bn at current exchange rate).

Otti disclosed this while addressing the Aba community, who organised a thanksgiving carnival on the Umuagbai Secondary School premises, Port Harcourt Road, in celebration of the reconstruction and completion of Port Harcourt Road, abandoned for over three decades.

He said bus terminals were being built for the transport system in the state while the 20 electric buses for the transportation would be for the first batch.

In the next two months, not more than two months, our transport system will start working. So, if you go around, you will see the bus terminals we are building.

“We have paid for the 20 electric buses. So, they are bringing the buses to carry you and me, and the buses will be beautiful.

“You know the kind of buses you see abroad. That is the kind of bus you will see in Abia. The only difference is that these buses will not use petrol. It will not use diesel. It will not use gasoline. They will be electric buses,” Otti stated.

The governor, who recalled his efforts in fixing the Port Harcourt Road against the attacks of the noisy opposition, said he replied the shameless opposition with performances.

He also revealed that the amount of money spent by the immediate-past administration in the reconstruction of Port Harcourt road, which was not realised, was much more than what his government spent in realising the road.

“In 2017, they awarded this Port Harcourt Road. The amount at that time was N9.8bn and they paid out the entire money. But the road was not done.

So, when in 2025, the road cost N36.5bn, they started making noise. So, I said, since you people understand mathematics, the average exchange rate in 2017 was N333 to a Dollar. Now, if you apply that, the N9.8bn was actually $29m (equivalent).

“In 2025, at the average exchange rate of N1,600, N36.5bn is actually $22.8m equivalent. So, let us do the mathematics.

“$29m and $22m, which is higher? The real issue is that in 2017, $29m was spent, and no road was done. In 2025, $22m was spent and a standard road is done and delivered for use,” Otti said.

While appreciating the reception organised for him, Otti thanked the Aba people for their sustained support, right from 2015 when he contested the governorship election for the first time.

He gave N1.4m reward to a keke driver in Aba, who returned N2.4m forgotten by a passenger in his tricycle and commended such act of honesty.

Senator Darlington Nwokocha and the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Emmanuel Emeruwa, saluted Otti for his strides in Aba and Abia State in general.

They said that the feat so far achieved by Otti was a testament to a focused leadership in the state.

Speaking on behalf of the Aba business community and the Aba Landlord’s Association, Chief David Onuoha, Chief Leo Okoye, Chief Alphonsus Odigbo and the chairman of the occasion, John Udeagba, said they decided to put the event together to show appreciation to the governor.

The convener of the carnival, Chief Onyeka Udeajah, lauded Otti, adding that the Port Harcourt Road stood tall in the achievements of the governor.