The Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, on Friday, signed the 2025 Appropriation Bill of N750.2 billion.
This followed the passage of the bill by the state House of Assembly.
In his address at the brief event held at Nvosi in Isiala Ngwa South local government area of the state, Otti said the budget underscores the commitment of his administration to infrastructural development in the state.
He described the allocation of 82 percent of the 2025 budget to capital expenditures and 18 percent to recurrent expenditure as “a strategic move to address the critical infrastructure needs of the state.”
The governor said: “Our push for infrastructure development is demonstrated in this budget because when you have capital expenditure over 80 percent, it speaks to what you want to do with infrastructure, things that would out-last all of us.”
He assured the people of the state that some of the road projects that began in 2023 would be delivered in 2025.
The roads, according to him, include the Port Harcourt Road, Aba, Umuahia – Uzuakoli -Abiriba – Ohafia Road, Ohafia-Arochukwu Road, Okobo-Abam Road, the Omenuko Bridge, and Nunya Road.
Otti stressed that other road projects that had been awarded and retrofitting of hospitals and schools would be completed in 2025.
He commended the lawmakers for giving the bill an accelerated hearing and passage.
“This budget that was passed is a budget that will give us the impetus to continue to fire on all cylinders to ensure that our people are living a good life.
“I want to thank specially, the House members and leadership for doing such a thorough job in record time.
“I want to commend you for being thorough because that is actually what our government is about.
“We pride ourselves as a serious-minded government, so anything we present, we are ready for scrutiny.
“I want to thank you for a great job you did in scrutinising the budget, disagreeing in a few areas, and also being flexible enough to accept when reasonable responses are given,” Otti stated.