Otti’s Government and the Politics of Land Grabbing And Audio Compensation
By Uche Aguoru
A close look at the last quarter of 2025 shows that a staggering ₦23 billion was written off the Abia State Government under the sub-head Lands and Housing.
In that same year, during a civic reception held in his honour at Isiala Ngwa, Governor Alex Otti publicly declared: “We have paid all the people whose lands were acquired for the airport project to the last kobo.”
Yet, just last week, while reacting to a poser on the complaints from Nsulu land owners affected the same airport project, the Governor stated: “Every verified landowner will be paid.”
These two statements cannot coexist without raising serious questions. If everyone had already been paid “to the last kobo,” why is there now a fresh assurance that verified landowners will be paid?
These are glaring contradictions and inconsistencies that has always defined the Otti administration.
Why has the Abia State Government failed to publish a comprehensive list of beneficiaries, the amounts paid, dates of payment, and the specific parcels of land acquired? Why is it so difficult to provide documentary evidence for a transaction that reportedly consumed ₦23 billion within just three months?
Even more concerning is the fact that ₦15 billion had already been written off in 2024 for compensation payments. Yet, communities in Owazza, Ukwa West, continue to protest non-payment two years after their lands were acquired.
Transparency and accountability in governance is not optional, billions of taxpayers funds are involved, they demand accountability, transparency and verifiable data.
It is deeply troubling that the Otti administration has spent ₦38 Billion in two years for compensation and still no clarity and land owners are still protesting over none payment.
Gov. Otti can you provide data of those who were really paid, Abians are not asking for too much. They are simply asking for the truth.
Aguoru
Writes from Umuahia
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