World Bank Country Director Praises Gov. Otti for Progress in Abia

The World Bank Country Director for Nigeria, Matthew Verghis, has expressed satisfaction with the progress being recorded in Abia State.
He also commended the Governor of Abia State, Alex Otti, for providing impactful governance across various sectors of the state.
Verghis gave the commendation when Governor Otti paid a working and familiarisation visit to him at the World Bank Country Office in Asokoro.
The visit formed part of the World Bank’s tradition of hosting states considered to be performing well in key development areas.
According to a statement issued on Saturday by the Chief Press Secretary to the Executive Governor of Abia State, Njoku Ukoha, the discussions during the meeting focused largely on the power sector and ongoing development partnerships between the state government and the World Bank.
The Country Director disclosed that he had earlier planned to visit the Governor in Abia State but decided to receive him in Abuja since the Governor was already in the Federal Capital Territory with his team.
The statement further noted that the Commissioner for Power explained the collaboration between the Abia State Government and Geometric Power, including ongoing expansion plans aimed at extending electricity coverage across the state.
According to the statement, further discussions revealed that Abia State has been captured in several projects within the World Bank pipeline, particularly projects related to energy, rural electrification, renewable energy, WASH, and SPIN initiatives.
Ukoha also stated that Governor Otti informed the World Bank team that Abia State had met the conditions required for the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (L-PRES), a World Bank-supported initiative.
He added that compensation for affected property owners under the Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP) had already been approved, with payment processes already underway.
The statement added that the meeting also reviewed the way forward for ongoing World Bank-supported projects in Abia State, as well as strategies for strengthening development cooperation between both parties.
Members of the World Bank team present at the meeting included Taimur Samad and Fatima Adenike.
Members of the Governor’s delegation included the Commissioner for Poverty Alleviation, Ngozi Felix; the Principal Secretary to the Governor and Chief Strategy Officer, Chinonye Mba-Uzoukwu; and the Senior Special Assistant on Multilateral and Donor Agencies, Odinakachi Eric Eme.