“We Take Budget Very, Very Seriously” — Gov. Alex Otti Says, Seeks RMAFC Support for Abia’s Agriculture, Solid Minerals, Tourism Development

The Executive Governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Chioma Otti, OFR, has called on the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) to support the State’s efforts to expand its non-oil revenue base by facilitating access to funding for critical sectors including agriculture, solid minerals and tourism.

Governor Otti made the appeal on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, when he received Team Two of the RMAFC, led by the Federal Commissioner representing Rivers State, Ambassador Desmond Akawor, at his office during an official working visit to Abia.

The Governor used the occasion to highlight his administration’s approach to fiscal discipline, efficient resource management and sustained investment in infrastructure and other capital projects.

According to Governor Otti, despite Abia’s relatively modest share of federal allocations, the State has been able to undertake major development projects by prioritising capital expenditure and maintaining tight control over the cost of governance.

“We take budget very, very seriously. We have dedicated not less than 80 per cent of our expenditure to capital projects in the last three years,” the Governor said.

He attributed the administration’s ability to execute projects across different sectors to its emphasis on efficiency and responsible deployment of public resources.

“Some of the reasons we are able to do some of the things we are doing here is because we are down-right efficient in terms of how we deploy our resources,” Governor Otti stated.

The Governor further identified agriculture, solid minerals and tourism as strategic sectors capable of contributing significantly to Abia’s economic expansion and strengthening the State’s internally generated revenue.

He pointed to Abia’s considerable mineral deposits spread across areas including the Lokpanta-Umunneochi, Arochukwu and Ukwa belts, stressing that unlocking the economic potential of these resources would require effective collaboration between the State and Federal Government.

Governor Otti noted that because solid minerals are constitutionally placed on the Exclusive Legislative List, the State cannot independently exercise full control over the sector and therefore requires Federal partnership to develop it.

“We can only partner with the Federal Government,” Governor Otti said.

Against this backdrop, the Governor appealed to RMAFC to give Abia favourable consideration in the allocation of funds set aside under the Federal Government’s initiative aimed at supporting States to develop alternative and sustainable sources of revenue outside the oil sector.

Specifically, Otti drew attention to funds that are yet to be disbursed to eligible States, noting that Abia had already submitted its application and was awaiting the completion of the verification process.

“The ₦600 billion that is left out of the ₦810 billion, we would request that you consider us very, very positively,” the Governor said.

The Governor’s request comes as the RMAFC continues its assessment of State-level projects and proposals designed to stimulate revenue generation through productive sectors of the economy.

Earlier, the leader of the RMAFC delegation, Ambassador Desmond Akawor, explained that the Commission’s Committee on Fiscal Efficiency and Budget has among its responsibilities the assessment of projects proposed by States under the Federal Government’s non-oil revenue development initiative.

He explained that the programme is designed to support projects in agriculture, solid minerals and tourism, with participating States expected to submit proposals that are subsequently subjected to verification before recommendations for funding are made.

Akawor disclosed that Lagos, Bauchi and Yobe had so far accessed the fund, while approximately ₦810 billion remained outstanding to States that had been recommended for funding.

He said the Commission was working to secure the release of the outstanding funds, while approximately ₦210 billion currently available had been proposed for distribution among States. Based on the proposed sharing arrangement, each State could receive about ₦6 billion.

The RMAFC delegation also commended the Abia State Government for several projects and interventions inspected during its visit, with particular attention drawn to the State Government’s intervention at the National War Museum in Umuahia.

“What we saw there is completely different from what we saw in other States,” he said.

Akawor described the condition of the National War Museum as an issue deserving the attention of the Federal Government, while acknowledging the intervention already undertaken by the Abia State Government.

He pledged that the Commission would make appropriate recommendations to the Federal Government concerning the museum.

The RMAFC Federal Commissioner also commended the infrastructural interventions being undertaken by the Otti administration across the State, noting that the delegation had received reports concerning the ongoing transformation in Abia and had the opportunity to personally inspect some of the projects.

“With all that we have seen and heard and read, we encourage you to continue,” he said.

The delegation was also scheduled to inspect the State’s rubber plantation as part of its working visit, further expanding the areas being assessed by the Commission in relation to Abia’s economic potential and revenue-generation opportunities.

The engagement underscored the growing emphasis on strengthening States’ productive capacity and reducing dependence on traditional sources of public revenue, with Abia seeking to position agriculture, solid minerals and tourism as important components of its economic development strategy.

The Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Emmanuel Meribeole; Chief of Staff to the Governor, Pastor Caleb Ajagba, Ph.D.; Commissioners; the Accountants-General of the State; an d other top government officials attended the meeting.