DEVELOPMENT
Abia State Govt Partners AMENA Tourism Tech to Introduce Comprehensive Hospitality Grading, Boost Tourism Standards and Economic Growth
The Abia State Government, under the leadership of State Governor, Dr. Alex Chioma Otti, OFR, has taken a major step toward repositioning the state’s tourism and hospitality sector with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with AMENA Tourism Tech for the grading and rating of hospitality establishments across the state.
The MoU, signed on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, at the office of the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, marks another strategic milestone in the Otti-led administration’s broader economic reform agenda aimed at standardization, professionalism, and sustainable development.
The agreement establishes a structured framework for assessing, grading, and rating hotels and other hospitality facilities operating within Abia State, with the objective of introducing uniform service benchmarks that align with global best practices. Through this initiative, the state government seeks to enhance service delivery, improve regulatory oversight, and position Abia as a competitive and investor-friendly tourism destination.
Speaking at the event, the Commissioner for Arts, Culture and Creative Economy explained that the initiative is designed to ensure that all hospitality establishments in Abia State are properly identified, assessed, and brought into a standardized regulatory framework. He noted that the grading system would improve traveler confidence by guaranteeing consistent and reliable service standards for both domestic and international visitors.
He further stated that the partnership would significantly raise accommodation quality, encourage healthy competition among operators, and promote continuous service improvement within the hospitality industry.
According to him, the grading and rating framework will serve as a catalyst for economic growth by strengthening the tourism value chain, creating employment opportunities, and stimulating related sectors such as transportation, food services, local crafts, and cultural tourism.
The Commissioner also highlighted the security and regulatory benefits of the initiative, noting that a verified database of graded hospitality establishments would enhance government oversight, reduce risks to visitors, and ensure compliance with existing laws and regulations governing the sector.
In his remarks, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Ikechukwu Uwanna, SAN, described the MoU as consistent with Governor Alex Otti’s policy direction of deliberately revitalizing all sectors of the Abia State economy. He reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to reforms that promote professionalism, accountability, and long-term sustainability across industries.
Under the terms of the agreement, the grading and rating exercise is expected to run for a period of five months, after which Abia State will have a comprehensive and standardized hospitality register that supports tourism growth, investor confidence, and improved service delivery across the state.
The signing ceremony brought together key stakeholders, including the Abia State Ministry of Arts, Culture and Creative Economy, led by its Commissioner, Chief Matthew C. Ekwuribe (Agụ Ji Ọgụ Nke Mbu); the Abia State Ministry of Justice, led by the Honourable Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Ikechukwu Uwanna, SAN; and AMENA Tourism Tech, represented by its Managing Director, Mr
. Eghosa Eghobien.