Governor Alex Otti of Abia State has flagged off the construction of the area’s first general hospital in Ohanku-Ndoki, Ukwa East Local Government Area (LGA), to improve access to secondary healthcare.
Speaking at the event on Thursday, Otti said the facility would be the first secondary health institution in the area and is expected to address long-standing gaps in quality medical care for residents.
The governor stated that the project underscores his administration’s commitment to equitable and high-quality healthcare delivery across the state, especially in rural and undeserved communities.
He noted that, upon completion, the hospital would serve people in the community and surrounding areas, reduce the need for long-distance travel for treatment, and strengthen emergency medical response.
Otti commended the traditional ruler of the host community, Eze Chibuzor Chinyere, for donating the land for the project, describing the gesture as patriotic and development-focused.
He assured the community that other requests presented to the state government would be reviewed and prioritized based on available resources.
The governor added that proposals for establishing a Free Trade Zone, reviving dormant assets, and investing in agro-processing—particularly palm oil production—are already receiving attention and align with the state’s broader economic development strategy.
Otti disclosed that his administration had previously explored the possibility of establishing a seaport in Abia and initiated discussions with Chinese partners. However, he noted that the engagement encountered technical challenges, including the 19.5 nautical miles distance to the high sea and dredging requirements. He maintained that efforts in that regard are ongoing.
He further revealed that the government has commenced scoping works on Ohanku Road in Aba, which leads into the community. He added that rehabilitating Ohanku and Port Harcourt Road would require extensive sub-structural work due to difficult soil conditions.
In his remarks, the Commissioner for Health, Prof. Enoch Uche, said the project reflects the governor’s dedication to providing affordable, accessible, and quality healthcare services.
Uche stated that the hospital would be designed to meet the healthcare needs of the people through improved access to quality services.
The Commissioner for Information, Mr Okey Kanu, said the project would help reduce maternal and infant mortality while strengthening primary and secondary healthcare delivery. He added that the hospital would generate employment and stimulate socio-economic growth in the area.
Former Senate President, Sen. Adolphus Wabara, described the project as eloquent proof of the present administration’s resolve to run an inclusive government. He commended the governor’s holistic and strategic approach to healthcare development, as evidenced by the hospital being built for the people of Ukwa East LGA.
A former lawmaker, Chief Chris Nkwonta, called the event historic, noting that since Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999, no governor had visited Ukwa East to inaugurate such a major project.
Nkwonta highlighted the area’s economic potential, citing its proximity to the Atlantic Ocean and prospects for a Free Trade Zone and agro-industrial development. He also called for government intervention in lingering boundary disputes between communities in Ukwa and neighboring Akwa Ibom State.
The traditional ruler, Eze Chibuzor Chinyere of Ikwuorie Autonomous Community, described the hospital as a long-awaited intervention, noting that the community previously had no single hospital.
Chinyere expressed optimism that the facility would spur commercial activities in the area. He appealed to the state government for electricity metering, provision of transformers, extension of Smart Schools, and speedy completion of Ohanku Road.
