Residents and former residents of Abia State have sparked a massive online movement by sharing powerful before-and-after photos and videos that vividly illustrate the remarkable changes in the state's infrastructure since Governor Alex Otti took office in May 2023. The trend, which exploded across social media in early January 2026, contrasts the severe decay, abandoned buildings, collapsed businesses, and deteriorating living conditions that plagued major urban centres such as Aba and Umuahia for years with the visible progress and renewal taking place under the current administration.
Contributors, many of whom are Abia indigenes now living in other parts of Nigeria or abroad, have used these posts to recount years of infrastructural neglect that triggered economic stagnation, widespread business closures, and a significant exodus of people from the state. Frequently shared images depict major roads reduced to impassable craters filled with potholes, blocked drainage channels causing chronic flooding, overgrown vegetation swallowing highways, and once-bustling commercial districts in Aba now eerily quiet with shuttered shops. These visuals are often paired with heartfelt personal stories about the hardships endured and the sense of abandonment that defined life in Abia prior to 2023.
The online conversation has naturally expanded into reflections on the state's political past, with many users pointing fingers at long-serving political figures for contributing to the prolonged decline through alleged mismanagement, self-enrichment, and neglect of public welfare. Discussions frequently reference the tenures of former governors Orji Uzor Kalu (1999–2007) and Theodore A. Orji (2007–2015), highlighting controversial aspects of their administrations that many believe set the stage for the state's infrastructural collapse.
A particularly emotional layer to the posts involves diaspora Abians who explain that economic hardship, poor roads, unreliable power, and general insecurity were major factors in their decision to relocate. Aba, once celebrated as the commercial heartbeat of the Southeast and nicknamed the "Japan of Africa" for its entrepreneurial spirit, had earned the derogatory moniker "Aba Dustin" due to its filth, flooding, and dilapidated state. Users now express shock and gratitude as they compare those grim realities with the smooth, newly asphalted roads, functioning drainage systems, and revitalized streetscapes emerging today.
The viral content gained further momentum when media personality and proud Aba indigene Noble Igwe joined the conversation on January 10, 2026. Having grown up in the city and previously served as an ambassador for the "Made in Aba" initiative, Igwe used his platform to critique politicians who held power in Abia from 1999 until Governor Otti's emergence. He specifically called attention to Benjamin Kalu, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives representing Bende Federal Constituency, noting that despite entering public office in 2002 as Transition Chairman of Bende Local Government and accumulating over two decades in various political roles, Kalu only recently commissioned a significant 1,000 kVA solar-powered electricity project in his constituency on January 9, 2026. Igwe expressed relief that Governor Otti is now addressing the long-neglected needs of the people.
The before-and-after visuals dominating the discussion include iconic transformations such as the rehabilitation of Port Harcourt Road in Aba—a critical economic lifeline that had remained a nightmare of craters and mud for over four decades before Julius Berger Nigeria Plc stepped in under Otti's administration. Similar dramatic improvements are shown on Ohanku Road, Faulks Road, Ngwa Road, and several other major arteries in both Aba and Umuahia. Posts also highlight the installation of solar streetlights, urban beautification projects, and the construction of new ring roads connecting rural communities to urban centres.
By mid-2025, the Otti administration had completed or was actively working on over 350 road projects across the state, earning praise for delivering on promises that previous governments had repeatedly failed to fulfil. The governor's 2026 budget speech further reinforced this commitment, allocating substantial funds for continued infrastructure development, power supply, healthcare upgrades, and education improvements. Many online commentators now describe the changes as nothing short of miraculous, crediting Otti's pragmatic, no-nonsense approach to governance for reversing decades of stagnation.
While the majority of posts celebrate the progress, the conversation has also prompted some defensive responses from supporters of past administrations who argue that certain projects were initiated or completed under earlier leaders. Nevertheless, the overwhelming sentiment among participants—particularly those who left Abia due to its former state—is one of renewed hope and pride. The viral before-and-after series serves as both a historical reckoning with the challenges of the past and a powerful visual testament to the impact of focused leadership.
As the online movement continues to grow, it has become a rallying point for Abians at home and in the diaspora, symbolizing a collective desire for sustained development and accountability. The stark visual contrast between "then" and "now" has not only documented Abia's turnaround but also reignited optimism that the state can reclaim its position as one of Nigeria's most vibrant and prosperous regions.
