Abia willing to partner genuine investors to drive sustainable development

…Signs MoU with promoters of Aba Commercial Smart City, United Market Leaders/Traders

Governor Alex Otti of Abia State has declared that the state was fully prepared for business and open to genuine investors willing to partner his administration to drive sustainable development in line with its economic vision.

Governor Otti made this known while receiving members of the Aba Commercial Smart City at the Government House, Umuahia, during the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Aba Commercial Smart City and United Market Leaders/Traders.

The engagement also provided an opportunity for the investors to present details of the proposed Aba Commercial Smart City, a strategically located Public-Private Partnership (PPP) investment hub occupying 140 hectares of land in Osisioma axis of Aba.

Governor Otti, who was represented by Caleb Ajagba, his chief of staff, said that the project, upon completion, would reposition Aba as a major industrial hub, stimulate sustainable economic growth and generate massive employment opportunities for the people of Abia State.

He described the Aba Commercial Smart City, as a transformative initiative that underscores his administration’s commitment to creating an enabling environment capable of attracting both local and foreign investors.

“When we speak of the Aba Commercial Smart City, we are talking about a project that will significantly transform Aba and, indeed, Abia State.

“It is a strategically located, mixed-use, commercially driven smart city designed to modernise trade, commerce, manufacturing and logistics.

“This aligns with our vision of positioning Aba as a commercial and industrial hub that will drive sustainable economic development, economic growth and job creation,” the governor stated.

Governor Otti recalled that upon assuming office in May 2023, his administration declared a state of emergency in critical sectors of the economy, expressing confidence that reviving those sectors would place the state firmly on the path of development.

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“More than two years later, the results of that visionary approach to governance are evident. Aba recently marked over 90 days of uninterrupted power supply. What we are witnessing today confirms that once the right environment is created, investors will naturally come. Investors are not emotional; they respond to the right atmosphere,” he added.

Chinedu Nebo, a professor and group managing director of Aba Commercial Smart City, represented by Osita Offor, president of the company, described the project as the first of its kind in Sub-Saharan Africa and a bold step towards positioning Abia, as a global gateway to Africa’s commerce and industrial revolution.

According to him, the Aba Commercial Smart City symbolises prosperity, through enterprise and is designed to restore Aba’s historic status, as Africa’s commercial heartbeat, while seamlessly connecting it to global trade corridors.

“With integrated power systems, a high-speed digital backbone and specialised districts, the Aba Commercial Smart City stands as a beacon of modernity and resilience. It ushers in a new era of opportunity, promising jobs, skills development and urban renewal, while positioning Abia, as a centre of excellence in manufacturing, healthcare, hospitality and technology,” he said.

Mike Okiro, group vice chairman, Aba Commercial Smart City and former Inspector-General of Police, commended Governor Otti for using the project to restore Aba’s lost glory, as Nigeria’s commercial and industrial hub.

He noted that several investors were already committing funds to ensure the timely execution of the project for the benefit of Abians and Nigerians at large.

Delivering the technical presentation,

David Okoro, manager, Technical Services, Aba Commercial Smart City, explained that the project is built on four core innovation pillars: automated manufacturing, medical services, commerce, hospitality and smart housing, logistics efficiency and smart energy.

He added that the Smart City is designed as a resilient, technology-driven environment, where businesses thrive, through intelligence and seamless connectivity.

Okoro, further disclosed that the integrated e-commerce platform and bonded terminals, would eliminate the challenges faced by importers, by enabling cross-border transactions from home, with goods delivered directly to their doorsteps.

He said that the economic benefits of the project are enormous, noting that it would significantly boost the state’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) while creating over 25,000 direct jobs and 100,000 indirect jobs across construction, ICT, manufacturing and retail sectors.

“The Aba Commercial Smart City will offer a permanent relocation solution with technology-driven facilities designed for ease of doing business, healthy living and long-term sustainability,” he stated.