Abia Governor Alex Otti plans to demolish multi-billion naira government house amidst economic crisis

Governor Alex Otti of Abia State has announced plans to demolish the newly built multi-billion naira Government House in Umuahia, the state capital. Otti revealed this decision on Saturday while inaugurating a new office for the chairperson of Arochukwu Local Government Council.

According to his spokesperson, Ukoha Njoku, the governor’s announcement follows a request from human rights lawyer Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa. Adegboruwa had sought police protection for the #EndBadGovernance protest scheduled for August 2024, which has been gaining traction on social media.

The Government House, which was commissioned by former governor Okezie Ikpeazu on May 28, 2023, was completed just before the end of his tenure. The project, initially started by former governor Theodore Orji, had seen significant expenditures, including N175 million spent on its fencing alone. The total cost of the project remains unclear, but officials suggest it may have amounted to several billion naira.

Governor Otti, who assumed office in March 2023 under the Labour Party, has yet to use either the new or old Government House. He has been operating from his private residence in Umuru Umuehi, Isiala-Ngwa South Local Government Area, citing high costs associated with renovating the existing Government House buildings.

Otti criticized the new Government House as “dilapidated and decayed,” claiming it was hastily commissioned and lacks essential facilities. He stated that his administration would dismantle the complex by the end of the year and build a new, more suitable Government House.

The governor’s plan comes amid a severe economic crisis in Nigeria, with Abia State among the country’s most indebted regions. As of March 31, 2024, the state’s domestic debt was N113.7 billion, with an external debt of $89 million as of December 31, 2023.

Otti’s decision to demolish the Government House has raised questions about the financial implications, especially as his administration has incurred substantial costs for operating from his private residence, including over N2 million monthly for fuel. With petrol prices rising to N800 per litre, the financial burden on the state has likely increased.