I am confident that neither civil servants nor other public and private sector workers, traders, or artisans in Abia State will participate in protests against the severe hunger affecting Nigeria.
My confidence does not stem from the idea that Abia’s people are unaffected by the economic struggles that are pushing Nigerians to their limits. On the contrary, hunger and frustration due to the soaring cost of living are widespread issues affecting everyone in the country, regardless of their background. Both the wealthy and the poor, across different ethnic and religious groups, agree that the situation has become critical and demands urgent action to prevent further deterioration.
However, despite the general frustration and calls for public demonstrations—which could lead to chaos and worsen the already difficult conditions for many—people in Abia will likely remain calm rather than joining in the protests.
One might wonder why the people of Abia would stay silent amid a national call to protest hunger. The answer is straightforward: Abia has experienced severe hardship and is now slowly recovering. For the first time in over 25 years, there is hope on the horizon.
With the recent election of Governor Alex Otti and the emerging Labour Party government, Abians are beginning to trust their local leadership once again and are eager to maintain peace. This is especially true given that the new administration has shown progress within just a year.
Before the March 18, 2023, governorship election that brought Governor Otti into office, Abia was often criticized as the worst-governed state in Nigeria. Many issues now affecting other parts of Nigeria were endured by Abians for the past quarter-century.
While things in Aba and Umuahia are not yet perfect and may never be on par with cities like Dubai, Abia is moving in a positive direction under Governor Otti’s leadership. This progress is acknowledged not only by residents but also by people from Africa, Europe, America, and Asia, who are coming to witness the improvements.
When Governor Otti took office on May 29, 2023, he pledged to restore the dignity of Abians and make them proud of their state. He promised to create a secure environment for living, working, and doing business.
True to his word, he and his team began addressing urgent issues in health, education, waste management, security, and infrastructure. He also committed to ensuring that public sector workers receive their salaries on time and clear all arrears.
Thirteen months into his tenure, Governor Otti has successfully cleared over N50 billion in outstanding salaries owed by the previous administration. He has also reached an agreement to pay about N17 billion in additional salary arrears and introduced a N45,000 wage award for state workers over three months. Additionally, he resolved pension arrears totaling over N10 billion, benefiting around 12,000 pensioners.
Abians, and many Nigerians, believe that Governor Otti has kept his promises, unlike previous leaders. Besides focusing on worker and pensioner welfare, his administration has worked to enhance the overall quality of life in Abia. This includes improving road infrastructure, cleaning up waste, reforming revenue systems, renovating healthcare and educational facilities, and supporting small businesses and youth training programs.
Security in the state has also significantly improved, with a notable reduction in violent crime due to coordinated efforts by various security agencies.
Before the national calls for protest emerged, the Abia State Government had already provided relief through free medical care, food supplies, and interest-free loans across the state’s 184 wards to help mitigate hunger and economic difficulties. Recently, the state distributed N1 billion in interest-free loans to 10,000 small-scale business owners, many of whom operate in rural areas.
While protesting is a fundamental right, past experiences in Nigeria show that such demonstrations often lead to unintended consequences, including violence and damage to public property. In Abia, where the current government is working hard to improve living conditions, it would be unwise to advocate for protests, no matter how justified the grievances might be.
