GOV. ALEX OTTI SPEAKS TO ABIANS: Gov. Alex Otti Advances Plans to Revive Key Abia Industries Through AMCON Takeover and Public-Private Partnerships

Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Chioma Otti, has announced significant progress in the state government’s strategic move to revive long-abandoned industries and restore Abia’s industrial legacy through proactive engagements with the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON).

Governor Otti disclosed this on Thursday during the October edition of the Monthly Media Parley tagged “Governor Alex Otti Speaks”, where he revealed that discussions between the state government and AMCON were already at an advanced stage to facilitate the takeover and revitalization of key moribund industries, including Aba Star Paper Mills, Modern Ceramics, Umuahia, International Glass Industry, and Aba Textile Mills.

According to him, the overarching vision is for the government to recover these industries and hand them over to competent private sector operators under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model that would stimulate massive employment, boost the state’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), improve Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), and drastically reduce poverty across Abia.

“The whole idea is for the Government to recover the industries and hand them over to experts to be managed under a Public-Private Partnership arrangement which would in turn create employment, raise the State’s GDP, improve Internally Generated Revenue, and reduce poverty levels,” the Governor stated.

Governor Otti, while giving updates on the progress made so far, reaffirmed that the revival of the Star Paper Mills in Owerrinta and Aba was already underway following the successful completion of documentation with AMCON.

“Like I have reported in the past, the Star Paper Mill in Owerrinta and Aba are now back, having completed the documents by the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON). 

“We have made an offer which has been accepted, and we will pay AMCON in installments. Once payment is concluded, we will take ownership of those companies. 

“Government is an enabler, the idea is to acquire those companies, bring in experts to run them as private entities, and create employment for our people, which is most important to us,” he explained.

The Governor further disclosed that the state had intensified negotiations to resuscitate other key industries such as the Aba Textile Mill and Modern Ceramics, Umuahia, in order to broaden the state’s industrial base and restore its historical reputation as a manufacturing hub in the Southeast.

“I have also instructed the Honourable Commissioner for Industry to engage with the owners of Aba Textile Mill and Modern Ceramics, and I have joined a Zoom meeting with those who bought Aba Textile Mill,” he confirmed.

Governor Otti’s industrialization agenda reflects his administration’s unwavering commitment to reposition Abia State as a major player in Nigeria’s manufacturing and industrial development. By blending strategic government intervention with private sector expertise, the Otti administration aims to rebuild the economic backbone of Abia and provide sustainable job opportunities for its people.