The Chairman of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), Dr Mohammed Bello Shehu, has commended Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti, for what he described as prudent management of public resources and the administration’s strong focus on infrastructure and human development.
Shehu gave the commendation on September 16, 2026, during a courtesy visit to Governor Otti at his country home in Nvosi, Isialangwa South Local Government Area of the state, where he also received a Certificate of Occupancy to commence the construction of RMAFC’s permanent office in Abia.
The RMAFC chairman said the developmental strides recorded by the administration since assuming office demonstrated effective utilisation of the state’s resources, particularly in road infrastructure, education, healthcare, security and fiscal management.
“I wouldn’t hesitate to say that this State is blessed to have you as Governor. Every independent analyst will testify that this is one of the best governed States in Nigeria. And you are certainly the best among all those who have governed the State,” Shehu said.
He specifically commended the construction and rehabilitation of more than 400 roads, including bridges, as well as investments in education and the renovation and upgrading of schools across the state.
Shehu also praised the administration’s interventions in primary healthcare, security and fiscal transparency, noting that Abia had improved its position in fiscal transparency from 17th to fourth.
He said RMAFC was pursuing reforms aimed at improving revenue monitoring, digitalising its operations and providing real-time access to revenue information, while also working on a new revenue allocation formula to reflect the increasing responsibilities of state governments.
The RMAFC chairman further disclosed that the commission was pursuing reforms concerning the Natural Resources Development Fund to ensure better recovery and utilisation of resources.
He thanked Governor Otti for providing land for the construction of the commission’s permanent office in Abia, assuring that the facility would be developed in line with national standards.
Responding, Otti said his administration had remained focused on efficiently deploying the state’s limited resources to areas of greatest need, particularly infrastructure and other projects capable of improving the welfare and economic prospects of residents.
“We are very happy that you are doing what you are doing. And we know that with the changes you are proposing, and with the President supporting us, States can be more empowered. If States are more empowered, they will do a lot more for the people,” Otti said.
The governor explained that more than 80 per cent of the state’s annual budgets over the past three years had been allocated to capital expenditure, reflecting the administration’s emphasis on physical development.
“All the good work we are doing is because we efficiently allocate our limited resources to areas of most important need. We are a very small State when you look at allocation. We are almost number 20, even though we have oil in one local government, but it is not that much,” he said.
Otti also said the state had undertaken the rehabilitation of several federal roads within Abia, stressing that his administration was prepared to intervene in critical infrastructure wherever it received the necessary authorisation.
The governor expressed hope that the proposed revenue allocation reforms would be implemented soon, saying greater financial empowerment for states would enable them to deliver more development to their citizens.
The presentation of the Certificate of Occupancy to the RMAFC chairman makes Abia, according to the state government, the first South-East state to provide land to the commission for the construction of a permanent office.
The visit was attended by the Federal Commissioner representing Abia on RMAFC, Mrs Nkechi Oti, the Secretary to the State Government, Chief of Staff, commissioners and other senior government officials.
