Latest news with #AlexOtti
Zawya
27-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Nigeria: RAMP, Otti pays $2mln for roads upgrade, agro logistics hubs in Abia
In demonstration of his commitment to the development of the rural communities, Governor Alex Otti of Abia State has paid a counterpart fund of N3.5 billion as requirement for the upgrade of roads and setting up agro logistics hubs in about 10 local government areas of the state under the Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Program (RAMP). The Commissioner for Information Prince Okey Kanu disclosed this at Government House Umuahia, Monday, while briefing newsmen on the outcome of this week's expanded State Executive Council meeting presided over by Governor Alex Otti, stating that the projects are expected to commence across the benefitting LGAs soonest. 'So the state has paid its own counterpart funds and we expect that with a similar action from the World Bank, that project will kick off around the state,' he said. Kanu noted that in line with the announcement made by the Governor during the interdenominational thanksgiving service on roads upgrade and other project commissioning, the Governor would Tuesday commission one out of the 20 smart schools already completed in Umuahia. The information Commissioner further announced that the governor during a joint anniversary State Executive Council meeting of the executive and legislative arms of government, signed into law 18 executive bills recently passed by the 8th Abia State House of Assembly. According to the information Commissioner, the newly signed 18 bills bring to 30 the total number of executive bills introduced and signed into law by the administration of Governor Alex Otti, stating 'This landmark achievement seeks to institutionalise the reforms and transformations that have so far taken place in Abia State.' He noted that the 2 years administration of Governor Alex Otti has been full of monumental achievements as can be felt and touched by all and sundry, assuring that greater strides lie ahead, adding that in the light of the second anniversary celebrations, more activities have been lined up for the rest of the week and they will be holding in the next couple of days starting from Tuesday. Contributing, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barr. Ikechukwu Uwanna said that the laws signed would transform the landscape of governance in the state, adding that they underscore government's commitment to institutionalizing the reforms and changes being brought into governance. 'However, it's important to note that these bills underscore His Excellency's commitment to institutionalizing the reforms and changes that he's bringing together in governance in the state. 'These bills also form the fulcrum, the engine block for all the roads that you see, for the infrastructural development that is going on across the state, for the massive reforms that are being carried all around the state. So that underscores the importance of these bills that have now been passed into law,' Barr. Uwanna stated. Uwanna further revealed that with the 18 laws , some agencies have been moved from reporting directly to the office of the Governor to their line ministries for optimal performance. Also speaking, the commissioner for poverty alleviation and social protection, Mrs Ngozi Blessing Felix said Governor Otti has through payment of the counterpart fund demonstrated once again commitment to the development of rural communities through investing in long term solutions. 'Recently, His Excellency has demonstrated once again his commitment to the development of our rural communities by investing in long-term solutions as regards road infrastructure under the Abia States Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project. 'He recently approved the payment of the counterpart fund to the tune of 3.5 billion Naira, which is a key requirement for all states who are participating on the rural access project. Abia is one of the states,' Felix stated.
AFP
14-03-2025
- Politics
- AFP
Posts falsely claim Nigeria's Abia state governor banned cows from the north
'Breaking news: Governor Alex Otti bans cow imports from northern Nigeria, urges Abians to switch to fish or Ehi-Igbo,' reads the heading of a post on Facebook. Ehi means cow in the Igbo language, the major dialect in southeastern Nigeria. Ehi-Igbo refers to the local cow breed in the region (archived here). The post has been shared more than 360 times since it was published on March 8, 2025. It further claims that the Abia state government banned cow imports from the north after reports that the animals were injected with harmful substances that can cause long-term health issues. 'Governor Otti described this as a 'slow extermination' of the Igbo people by certain elements from the north,' the post concludes, suggesting that the governor announced the ban in a speech. Image Screenshot of the false Facebook post, taken on March 12, 2025 Nigerian officials are promoting a plan to give traditionally nomadic Fulani herders land on dozens of designated reservations, arguing this would stop confrontation by preventing cattle from wandering onto farms and settlements. Competition for natural resources like fertile land and water between nomadic herders and farmers has resulted in conflicts that have claimed thousands of lives and caused displacement in several communities (archived here). States in Nigeria's Middle Belt region, such as Benue, Plateau, and Nasarawa, were among the worst hit by the crisis from 2010-2020 (archived here). In February 2021, Okezie Ikpeazu, who was the governor of Abia state at the time, said the state paid compensation for each cow killed in clashes between farmers and herders (archived here). However, there is no ban in Abia on cows from the north. Notorious website The post contains the link to a website called Daily Excessive, which has been identified as sharing false information on multiple occasions (archived here and here). In December 2024, Yahaya Bello, the former governor of Kogi state in Nigeria's north-central region, threatened to sue the platform's owners for publishing false information about him (archived here). The post claiming that the Abia state governor banned cow imports was published on the website's Facebook page on March 6, 2025 – two days before it circulated elsewhere. AFP Fact Check found no evidence of the governor making any speech or statement announcing a ban, nor did any credible local media outlet report on a ban. Ukoha Njoku, the chief press secretary to the Abia state governor, told AFP Fact Check that the claim is false. He also said nomadic herders are allowed to graze their cattle in the state. "There was an anti-grazing law already passed by the Abia State House of Assembly during the immediate past administration. However, the anti-grazing is yet to be enforced until now as the state is still exploring the introduction of ranching as an alternative before the enforcement of the existing anti-grazing law," he said. Read more of AFP Fact Check's debunks about claims circulating in Nigeria here.
Yahoo
14-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Posts falsely claim Nigeria's Abia state governor banned cows from the north
'Breaking news: Governor Alex Otti bans cow imports from northern Nigeria, urges Abians to switch to fish or Ehi-Igbo,' reads the heading of a post on Facebook. Ehi means cow in the Igbo language, the major dialect in southeastern Nigeria. Ehi-Igbo refers to the local cow breed in the region (archived here). The post has been shared more than 360 times since it was published on March 8, 2025. It further claims that the Abia state government banned cow imports from the north after reports that the animals were injected with harmful substances that can cause long-term health issues. 'Governor Otti described this as a 'slow extermination' of the Igbo people by certain elements from the north,' the post concludes, suggesting that the governor announced the ban in a speech. Nigerian officials are promoting a plan to give traditionally nomadic Fulani herders land on dozens of designated reservations, arguing this would stop confrontation by preventing cattle from wandering onto farms and settlements. Competition for natural resources like fertile land and water between nomadic herders and farmers has resulted in conflicts that have claimed thousands of lives and caused displacement in several communities (archived here). States in Nigeria's Middle Belt region, such as Benue, Plateau, and Nasarawa, were among the worst hit by the crisis from 2010-2020 (archived here). In February 2021, Okezie Ikpeazu, who was the governor of Abia state at the time, said the state paid compensation for each cow killed in clashes between farmers and herders (archived here). However, there is no ban in Abia on cows from the north. The post contains the link to a website called Daily Excessive, which has been identified as sharing false information on multiple occasions (archived here and here). In December 2024, Yahaya Bello, the former governor of Kogi state in Nigeria's north-central region, threatened to sue the platform's owners for publishing false information about him (archived here). The post claiming that the Abia state governor banned cow imports was published on the website's Facebook page on March 6, 2025 – two days before it circulated elsewhere. AFP Fact Check found no evidence of the governor making any speech or statement announcing a ban, nor did any credible local media outlet report on a ban. Ukoha Njoku, the chief press secretary to the Abia state governor, told AFP Fact Check that the claim is false. He also said nomadic herders are allowed to graze their cattle in the state. "There was an anti-grazing law already passed by the Abia State House of Assembly during the immediate past administration. However, the anti-grazing is yet to be enforced until now as the state is still exploring the introduction of ranching as an alternative before the enforcement of the existing anti-grazing law," he said. Read more of AFP Fact Check's debunks about claims circulating in Nigeria here.
Zawya
04-03-2025
- Business
- Zawya
A New Dawn for African Sports: Unlocking Transformational Investment in Community Sports Infrastructure
The Sports Africa Investment Summit 2025 has marked a pivotal moment in Africa's journey toward sports industrialisation and economic transformation. Over two electrifying days in Lagos, the summit, hosted by Sport Nigeria Ltd/Gte ( in partnership with the Office of the Presidency and the National Sports Commission, brought together a powerful coalition of stakeholders—government representatives, UNESCO, AFREXIM Bank, Development Finance Institutions (DFIs), investors, and sports industry leaders—all united by a shared vision: to unlock the immense potential of sports as a driver of economic growth, job creation, and community development across Africa. At the heart of this historic gathering was the signing of a groundbreaking technical agreement between the Abia State Government and Sport Nigeria Ltd/Gte, paving the way for Africa's first-ever Sports Special Economic Zone (SSEZ). This visionary initiative will transform Abia State into a global hub for sports goods manufacturing, leveraging Aba's legendary craftsmanship, entrepreneurial spirit, and industrial excellence. Aligned with Nigeria's Industrial Revolution Plan (NIRP) and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), the SSEZ is poised to become a beacon of innovation, trade, and industrialisation, creating thousands of jobs and empowering local businesses. According to Hon. Nwaobilor Ananaba, Commissioner for Sports, Abia State, 'The Special Sports Economic Zone is a game-changer for Abia State and Nigeria at large. Under the visionary leadership of His Excellency, Dr. Alex Otti, OFR we are committed to driving a collective agenda that will transform Abia into the premier hub for sports goods manufacturing and infrastructure development. This project is a bold step toward job creation, youth empowerment, and economic diversification, and we will work tirelessly to ensure its full realisation with our partners, Sports Nigeria.' The summit's robust discussions underscored the pressing need for innovative financing models, capacity-building initiatives, and diaspora engagement to sustain long-term development. According to Mr. Chinedum Chijioke, Chair of the Abia State Investment Office, 'The signing of this agreement marks the beginning of a transformative journey to attract global investments and build an ecosystem where sports, commerce, and industry thrive together. We are dedicated to fostering strategic partnerships that will actualise this vision and create lasting economic impact.' The summit also saw the formal launch of Spaces 4 Sports, Sport Nigeria's flagship initiative designed to address Africa's sports infrastructure deficit at the grassroots level. This cluster-based model will integrate community sports hubs across the continent, providing accessible facilities that encourage mass participation in sports, particularly within the education sector. By embedding sports into daily life, Spaces 4 Sports aims to achieve a 50% increase in mass sports participation, enhance youth engagement, and accelerate progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Africa Union Agenda 2063, using sports as a catalyst for education, health, and gender inclusivity. The message from the summit was clear: Africa's sports economy is ready to take off, but it will require bold investments, visionary leadership, and strategic partnerships to realise its full potential. This point was emphasised by Ms. Nkechi Obi, CEO of Sport Nigeria Ltd, 'Sports is more than entertainment—it's an industry, a business, and a force for economic transformation. Abia's Sports Special Economic Zone is the first of its kind, but it won't be the last. We are setting a precedent that others will follow.' The private sector has a critical role to play in bridging the infrastructure gap and unlocking the industry's potential. With sports serving as a multi-billion-dollar industry globally, Africa is uniquely positioned to harness its youthful population, raw talent, and market demand. Strategic investment in sports infrastructure will not only drive economic growth but also create employment, boost tourism, and elevate Africa's global sporting competitiveness. Mr. Yahaya Maikori, Vice Chairman of Sport Nigeria, notes that 'We don't need more talk—we need action. This SSEZ is our action plan. The world is watching, and investors are ready. Now is the time.' The foundation has been laid. The partnerships are forming. Now is the time for investors, DFIs, and Africa-focused development organisations to step forward and seize this unprecedented opportunity. The future of African sports is not on the sidelines—it's in the factories, the training centers, the research labs, and the boardrooms. The call to action is clear: Invest in Africa's sports future. Build the infrastructure. Empower the youth. Transform communities. Together, we can change the game. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Sport Nigeria Ltd. For investment inquiries or partnership opportunities, please contact: Sport Nigeria Ltd/Gte Email: sais@ info@ Website: Media Contact: Sport Nigeria Communications Email: sais@ Phone: 0706 203 8705 About Sports Africa Investment Summit (SAIS): SAIS is a premier annual event, championed by Sport Nigeria, designed to establish a platform for transformative partnerships and investments in Africa's sports infrastructure. By fostering collaboration across sectors, SAIS aims to unlock the vast potential of sports as an engine for economic and social development. About Sport Nigeria LTD: Founded in 2021, Sport Nigeria is a private-sector-led agency dedicated to fostering the development of Nigeria's sports industry. The organization partners with stakeholders to unlock investments, catalyze industrialization, and create opportunities for economic and community growth through sports. Sport Nigeria also complements government initiatives by driving sustainable industry development across the value chain.
