Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has announced that within the next nine months, every community in the state will be connected to the internet, marking a significant step in the state’s digital transformation agenda. The announcement was made during the flag-off ceremony for the first phase of the Umuahia Dedicated Internet Access/Wide Area Network and Managed Network Services Project at the Nnamdi Azikiwe State Secretariat in Umuahia, the state capital, on Monday.
The ambitious project is set to revolutionize how the state operates, both in governance and in its day-to-day activities, enhancing service delivery and improving communication across government institutions. Dr. Otti highlighted that the project will re-engineer efficiency and flexibility in operations, create a culture of outcome-oriented competition among civil servants, and provide the state with the digital infrastructure necessary to thrive in the modern world.
The Umuahia Dedicated Internet Access/Wide Area Network and Managed Network Services Project is a major step in Governor Otti’s plan to transform Abia State into a digitally connected, technologically advanced, and economically empowered region. The project, which is being executed by IPNX Nigeria, is expected to modernize the state’s civil service and ensure greater speed in communication and service delivery.
Mr. Ejovi Aror, Group Managing Director of IPNX, expressed his company’s commitment to facilitating seamless productivity across Abia State, which he believes is essential for unlocking the full potential of the state’s economy. He emphasized that this partnership would mark the beginning of a new chapter for the state, one where modern technology drives growth and development.
“This partnership signals the beginning of a new chapter in the journey towards building a digitally connected, technologically advanced, and economically empowered Abia State,” Aror said.
The first phase of the project focuses on establishing a digital support infrastructure across the state’s ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs). This will include the acquisition and distribution of thousands of high-performance digital tools and devices to government offices, the installation of fibre-optic cables within state-owned public institutions, and the establishment of critical hardware infrastructure needed to support digital governance.
Governor Otti emphasized that the goal of the project is not just to improve the efficiency of government operations, but to empower civil servants to perform their duties more effectively. The ultimate aim is to build a result-oriented civil service that can respond to the evolving needs of the New Abia.
“The long-term dividends of the new system will be seen in several areas, including reduced costs on paper and printer consumables, faster turnaround times for government services, and more efficient document management,” Governor Otti explained.
The project also promises to reduce the bureaucratic inefficiencies that often hinder the smooth operation of government institutions, leading to a more streamlined civil service that can better serve the needs of the people.
With the introduction of the Umuahia Dedicated Internet Access/Wide Area Network, government officials and employees will experience faster communication through emails, instant messaging, and Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services. Governor Otti described this shift as the beginning of a new era of seamless collaboration, where civil servants will benefit from a service-wide culture of learning, sharing, and growth.
The project’s goal is to create a borderless government system, where civil servants can access information and communicate with colleagues across different MDAs at any time, from anywhere. This will also facilitate the smooth operation of the state government’s digital platforms and ensure timely responses to inquiries from both citizens and development partners.
In his speech, Governor Otti made it clear that technology will play a central role in the future of Abia State’s civil service. He announced that efficiency in using relevant technology would be a necessary condition for civil servants to access new opportunities and promotions. This is in line with the governor’s vision to build a new, technology-driven workforce that is capable of adapting to the digital age.
“We will give our employees all the necessary support to scale their IT-systems knowledge, but it is up to them to embrace technology, up-skill, and grow,” Otti said. He warned that those who fail to adapt to the new digital systems would find themselves left behind, while those who embrace the changes would thrive in a more competitive and dynamic environment.
Governor Otti also highlighted that the project would bridge the gap between urban and rural areas in Abia State. By connecting all communities to the internet, the governor hopes to reduce the development divide and provide equal opportunities for everyone, regardless of their location.
The first phase of the fibre-optic cable laying will begin in the more urbanized and business-populated areas, and over the next nine months, the service will expand to the entire state. This move is expected to drive growth, create job opportunities, and open up new avenues for entrepreneurs, traders, farmers, artists, and other skilled workers to connect with potential clients and customers from anywhere in the world.
Governor Otti envisions a digital economy where people can engage in business transactions online, allowing them to sell their services and products without leaving their homes. This could significantly boost the local economy, especially in rural areas, by providing access to global markets.
The Governor’s digital transformation agenda has received strong support from the State Head of Service, Mr. Benson Ojeikere, who praised Dr. Otti for prioritizing the civil service in his transformation plans. Ojeikere assured that civil servants would reciprocate the governor’s commitment by delivering excellent service with integrity, diligence, and urgency.
“We are committed to moving the service to the next level and ensuring that the transformation we are witnessing today will continue to set new standards for public service delivery,” Ojeikere said.
The Chief Information Officer of Abia State, Mr. Gerald Ilukwe, stated that Phase One of the project will focus on multi-tenant building complexes housing several MDAs. However, the next phase will begin as soon as Phase One is completed, with plans to connect the entire government ecosystem in Abia State by the end of the service year.
“The entire government ecosystem in Abia will be linked up to one interconnected network, and by the end of the year, the state will be fully integrated into the digital space,” Ilukwe confirmed.
