Otti Dismisses N54 Billion Missing Fund Allegations as Baseless

Governor Alex Otti of Abia State has vehemently rejected allegations that N54 billion is missing from the state treasury, describing the claims as unfounded and reflective of a misunderstanding of government budgeting and expenditure processes.

The controversy arose after members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) under the platform of Abia’s Best Interest Association accused the governor of non-transparency and labeled him a political liability. They challenged him to account for the alleged N54 billion budgeted for the renovation of public schools in the 2024 fiscal year, citing the poor condition of school infrastructures observed during site visits across several local government areas.

Responding in a media chat, Governor Otti clarified that the N54 billion figure was part of budgetary provisions, not actual cash spent. He stated that only N2.1 billion out of the allocated funds for school renovations had been disbursed so far. Otti emphasized that budgeting represents an estimate rather than actual expenditure and insisted on the transparency of his administration’s financial operations, highlighting that audited financial accounts for 2024 had been made public.

The governor also outlined safeguards his administration has implemented to prevent fund diversion, notably requiring advance payment guarantees from contractors before releasing funds. He challenged critics to “understand numbers before speaking” and dismissed the allegations as politically motivated by individuals he described as mischief-makers without credibility.

Otti pointed to ongoing school renovation projects and investments in other sectors as evidence of the government’s commitment to development. He urged stakeholders to base their criticisms on facts rather than hearsay, underscoring his administration’s dedication to accountability.

This dispute illustrates the growing political tensions in Abia State as the 2027 general elections approach, highlighting demands for greater fiscal transparency and good governance from the electorate.

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