The Abia State Government has dismissed as “false, misleading and mischievous” reports alleging that Governor Alex Otti’s administration has spent ₦7 billion on its Smart Schools Project.
In a statement on Sunday, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Basic and Secondary Education, Sir Kenechukwu Nwosu, said the claims were being circulated by those opposed to the government’s reforms in the education sector.
Nwosu explained that the Otti-led administration is committed to transforming education in Abia through the construction of 20 Green Smart Schools across the 17 local government areas, with three additional mega schools in the senatorial districts.
“These schools will deliver free and inclusive education, while also equipping pupils with 21st-century skills in artificial intelligence, robotics, and coding,” the statement read.
According to him, each Smart School will run on renewable energy and feature digital learning tools such as smart boards, personal tablets, CCTV surveillance, and advanced management systems to prepare Abia’s children for global competitiveness.
He clarified that on July 12, 2025, the state government signed an agreement with Blue Giraffe Development Limited for the delivery of the 20 Smart Schools, but stressed that “the total cost of the project is not up to ₦7 billion,” debunking the reports making the rounds.
The pilot project at School Road Primary School, Umuahia, has already completed its first phase with smart facilities installed, while phase two covering additional classrooms, landscaping, drainage and fencing is set to begin once flooding challenges around the site are resolved.
The project will expand the school’s capacity from 300 to 750 pupils, in line with increased enrollment following the governor’s free basic education initiative. Eight other Smart Schools in the first batch are scheduled for delivery by September 2025.
The state government also cautioned individuals and groups spreading “deliberate falsehoods” to desist, stressing that the Smart Schools Project is transparent and fully accounted for.
“The countdown to the commissioning of the first batch has already begun. Abia State is rising, our schools are bouncing back stronger, brighter, and better prepared for the future,” the statement concluded.
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