Governor Otti names seven investment priorities for Abia State
Abia State Governor Alex Otti, during a meeting of the Nigerian-British Chamber of Commerce in Lagos, Nigeria, named seven priority areas for attracting investment, industrialisation and the state’s economic development. Premium Times Nigeria reports.
The list includes agribusiness and agricultural processing, trade and markets, the creative and digital economy, manufacturing and industrialisation. The development of small and medium-sized enterprises and the informal sector, inclusive financing, diaspora investment and innovation were also identified as priorities.
According to Otti, these areas are intended to utilise Abia’s productive potential and create opportunities for domestic and international capital. The theme of the Nigerian-British Chamber of Commerce meeting was repositioning Abia for enterprise, industrialisation and sustainable economic growth.
Budget and infrastructure
Otti said that Abia’s 2026 budget amounts to 1.016 trillion naira, of which 80% is allocated for capital expenditure. The state’s internally generated revenue target is 223.4 billion naira; according to the governor, these funds are intended to cover current obligations.
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The governor also said that 414 roads have been completed in the state, while another 82 are under construction. According to him, more than 10,000 solar-powered streetlights have been installed in Aba, Umuahia and Ohafia. He added that Abia ranked fourth in BudgIT’s state fiscal transparency ranking for the fourth quarter of 2025.
Investment opportunities
In agriculture, Otti named integrated livestock and dairy production, cashew and cocoa plantations, rubber farms and processing as possible investment areas. In manufacturing, he mentioned the garment industry, ceramic production, leather manufacturing and tanning, as well as the possibility of scaling Aba’s artisanal base into formal, higher-volume manufacturing.
Among other opportunities, the governor named tourism and hospitality projects linked to Enyimba Hotels in Aba, the Umuahia recreational park and Ibom Waterfall. In energy, transport and logistics, he mentioned the operation and maintenance of utility systems, as well as Azumiri Seaport, which, according to him, could become a trade and logistics hub.
Otti also highlighted the Abia Industrial Innovation Park and Economic Zone. In healthcare, he named the Abia Medical City project, a specialist hospital and a diagnostic centre as investment opportunities. Nigerian-British Chamber of Commerce President Abimbola Olashore said that businesses need clear and predictable rules, quality infrastructure, security, market access and partnership with the authorities.
