NEWS
GOV. ALEX OTTI SPEAKS TO ABIANS: “Sleep with Both Eyes Closed” – Governor Otti Assures, Declares Abia State Free from Non-State Actors, Launches Aba Centre for Sexual Assault Victims
By @TheKELVINATOR, The Eyes Opener News | February 27, 2026
In a firm response to growing concerns over security in Abia State, Governor Alex Chioma Otti has assured residents that every part of the state remains under government control and free from the influence of non-state actors. The Governor made this disclosure on Friday night during the February edition of his monthly media engagement with journalists, tagged “Governor Otti Speaks to Abians.”
Addressing the people, Governor Otti emphasized the administration’s commitment to protecting lives and property:
“We will continue to do everything that we need to do to ensure that all of you can sleep with your two eyes closed, and I’m happy that results are positive.
“There is no territory that is under the control of non-state actors in Abia State, and there will never be. We have put everything to security. We have professionals who are also supporting us.
“We set up the Security Trust Fund, we set up the Security Advisory Committee, and they are working very hard together with the security agencies, the police, the DSS, Nigerian Army, Navy.
“Everybody is working together to ensure that this place remains safe. And the logic is simple. If this place is not safe, everything we are doing will come to naught,” Governor Otti stated.
The Governor’s remarks underscore the administration’s proactive approach, highlighting the establishment of key security institutions, including the Security Trust Fund and the Security Advisory Committee, which collaborate with the Nigerian Police Force, Department of State Services, and the military to maintain order across the state.
Governor Otti also revealed a milestone in social security and support for vulnerable groups, disclosing that the state has recently commissioned a Sexual Assault Referral Centre in Aba. He noted that the Honourable Minister pledged support for similar centres in Umuahia and Ohafia, further strengthening the state’s commitment to tackling sexual violence.
Expressing deep sympathy over recent tragedies involving Abians who travelled to Enugu for a programme, Governor Otti assured that affected families would receive immediate support. He had already directed the Commissioner for Poverty Alleviation to provide assistance to the bereaved.
“Safety is the number one priority of this administration. We are working to ensure that Abians sleep with both eyes closed,” he reaffirmed.
Governor Otti stressed that security is the bedrock of all developmental initiatives in Abia State. Without a safe environment, he noted, the state’s ambitious programs in infrastructure, education, health, and economic growth could not thrive. The administration’s collaborative approach ensures that Abians can live, work, and invest in a stable and secure environment.