Umuahia, Nigeria — Alex Otti has clarified that Abia State will not receive reimbursement from the Federal Government for money spent by the state on fixing federal roads. The governor addressed speculation over compensation during his monthly media interaction on Friday night, stating that the Federal Government “has no plan to pay back” for road works undertaken by the state.
Otti said recent talk about federal reimbursement stems from misunderstanding rather than official policy. He explained that under the new Federal Government framework, states wishing to recoup their expenditure on federal road maintenance could instead impose tolls on those routes if they choose.
The governor’s remarks aim to settle public confusion following Abia’s significant investments in upgrading major routes within the state, a move made amid ongoing frustrations over prolonged federal project delays.
Governor Otti’s clarification underscores the financial challenges states face when stepping in to repair deteriorating national infrastructure without expectations of direct federal reimbursement.
