FIC Report (Abia State) – The Federal Government’s heightened emphasis on national security and the strengthening of security agencies has received renewed expression in Abia State, as Governor Alex Chioma Otti, OFR, reaffirmed his administration’s unrelenting commitment to supporting security institutions to protect lives and property and create a safe environment for economic growth.
The Governor spoke at the Michael Okpara Auditorium, Umuahia, during a send-off ceremony organised by the Abia State Government in honour of five senior security commanders recently transferred from the State, describing security as the fundamental responsibility upon which every other development effort depends.
Governor Otti said the sacrifices of security personnel often go unnoticed because while citizens sleep and conduct their daily activities, officers remain on duty, confronting threats, gathering intelligence and responding to emergencies to preserve public peace.
“A lot of you don’t sleep, so that the rest of us can sleep,” the Governor said, commending the outgoing commanders for their sacrifices, discipline, cooperation and commitment to securing Abia.
The ceremony, however, went beyond a farewell. It underscored a central principle of the administration’s security strategy: government must support security institutions without compromising their professional independence.
Governor Otti, responding to commendations from the outgoing commanders over his non-interference in security operations, said his administration would not use political influence to obstruct the work of security agencies.
“The reason we don’t interfere is that we have nothing to hide. And for us, what is right is right. If it is not right, it’s not right,” he stated.
He explained that once political authorities begin making improper interventions in security matters, institutional integrity is weakened, stressing that he would not call a Commissioner of Police or any security chief to demand the release of an individual.
The position reinforces the broader security philosophy of the Otti administration, which places emphasis on professionalism, accountability, operational support and inter-agency collaboration.
For the Governor, security is inseparable from development. Roads may be constructed, schools rebuilt, healthcare facilities equipped and businesses supported, but none of these gains can be fully sustained in an environment where citizens, businesses and investors are uncertain about their safety.
A secure environment is therefore central to Abia’s economic revival, industrialisation and investment drive. Traders need confidence to conduct business, manufacturers require secure supply chains, investors need certainty before committing capital, and families need the assurance that they can live and travel without fear.
The administration’s partnership with the military, police, intelligence services and paramilitary agencies has consequently focused not only on policy but also on providing the logistics and operational support required to confront contemporary security challenges.
Speaking earlier, the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Emmanuel Meribeole, commended the outgoing commanders for their service and contribution to strengthening the State’s security architecture, while urging officers still serving in Abia to remain resolute in protecting the people.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, Navy Commander MacDonald Ubah (Rtd), also acknowledged the Governor’s consistent provision of operational support and logistics to security agencies, noting that honouring departing commanders had become a tradition of the administration.
The outgoing officers — Brigadier General Hassan Muhammed Bello, immediate past Brigade Commander of the 14 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Ohafia; AIG Danladi Isah, immediate past Commissioner of Police, Abia State Command, now Assistant Inspector-General of Police; Mr. Ibrahim Sariki, immediate past State Director of the Department of State Services; Commandant Akinsola Aderemi, immediate past State Commander of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps; and Commandant Chigbu Odoemelam Chile, immediate past Commander of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency in Abia — expressed appreciation for the support received during their service.
They described Governor Otti as a security-friendly Governor who provided the necessary logistics and created an environment that enabled them to discharge their responsibilities effectively.
Their commendations highlight a critical dimension of contemporary governance: security agencies require not only personnel and authority, but also institutional confidence, intelligence, mobility, communication, logistics and political support that respects their constitutional responsibilities.
As the commanders proceed to their new assignments, the send-off ceremony demonstrated that security remains firmly embedded in the development agenda of the New Abia.
The message was clear: development cannot thrive without security, and security cannot be effective without professional institutions, adequate support and responsible governance.
For Abia, the strengthening of this partnership represents an investment not merely in policing crime, but in protecting the foundation upon which the State’s economic transformation, investment drive and improved quality of life are being built.
Abiakam Gloria Ify
HOC FIC, Umuahia
Abia State.
21st August, 2026.
