“One of the Biggest Things That We See Coming Out of Abia State is the Strong Industrial Capacity in Aba” — Special Adviser to the President on Industry, Trade and Investment, John Ugochukwu Uwajumogu Reveals, as He Meets Gov. Alex Otti, as FG Moves to Back Aba Textile, Garment Businesses, Agriculture

…as NALDA Chief, Engr. Cornelius Adebayo, Describes Gov. Alex Otti as a Performer and Reformer

The Federal Government has expressed renewed interest in supporting businesses and expanding investment opportunities in Abia State, with particular attention to Aba’s thriving textile and garment industry as well as the state’s agricultural sector.

The Special Adviser to the President on Industry, Trade and Investment, Hon. John Ugochukwu Uwajumogu, disclosed this on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, when he led a delegation on a visit to the Abia State Governor, His Excellency Dr. Alex Chioma Otti, OFR, at Nvosi in Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area of the state.

The visit was aimed at deepening collaboration between the Federal Government and the Abia State Government, while identifying areas where federal programmes, projects and investment initiatives could be deployed to support the state’s economic development.

Uwajumogu said the Federal Government had taken particular note of Aba’s established industrial capacity, especially its textile and garment businesses, and was examining practical ways to assist operators in overcoming some of the major challenges limiting their growth.

“One of the biggest things that we see coming out of Abia State is the strong industrial capacity in Aba, particularly in the textile and garments sector.

“And we have been thinking of how, from the federal level, we can support the businesses that are working in that sector and have come up with ideas on how we can address one of the biggest binding constraints that they often face, one being infrastructure and the other one being finance.

“And we’re also coming to discuss what we can bring to the table and help resolve and address those binding constraints,” Uwajimogu stated.

The presidential adviser explained that the Federal Government was looking at stronger partnerships with the state government as a means of bringing federal projects and programmes directly to Abia and ensuring that existing economic potentials are translated into sustainable opportunities for businesses and residents.

He identified infrastructure deficits and limited access to finance as major issues confronting businesses, particularly those operating in the industrial and manufacturing space, stressing the importance of practical interventions capable of improving productivity and expanding business activities.

Uwajimogu added that the engagement with Governor Otti would provide an avenue for both levels of government to examine specific areas of cooperation and develop measures capable of strengthening Abia’s industrial base.

Beyond manufacturing and trade, the delegation also expressed interest in expanding federal support for agriculture, with emphasis on agricultural production, agro-processing and value addition.

The presidential adviser noted that agriculture remained critical to improving livelihoods and supporting industrialisation, particularly when agricultural products could be processed locally and integrated into wider value chains.

He said the Federal Government was interested in working with the Abia State Government on initiatives that could strengthen agricultural productivity and create greater opportunities for farmers, processors and other players across the agricultural value chain.

Also speaking during the meeting, the Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of the National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA), Engr. Cornelius Adebayo, described Governor Otti as a performer and reformer..

Adebayo said NALDA’s core mandate was centred on poverty alleviation through agriculture, explaining that the agency was seeking the cooperation of the Abia State Government to secure suitable land for its Renewed Hope Mega Farm Estate programme.

According to him, the initiative is designed to bring farmers together in organised agricultural communities while providing critical infrastructure, improving security, facilitating access to agricultural inputs and markets, and creating sustainable income opportunities.

He expressed optimism that Abia could host a major NALDA agricultural project that would include a processing facility, stressing that the availability of suitable land and the cooperation of the state government would be critical to the successful implementation of the initiative.

Adebayo therefore appealed to Governor Otti to provide suitable land and other necessary support to enable NALDA commence the project in the state.

Responding, Governor Alex Otti expressed his administration’s readiness to collaborate with NALDA, the Federal Government and other relevant stakeholders to unlock the enormous agricultural potential of Abia State.

The governor described the proposed farm settlement initiative as a practical pathway to increasing food production, creating employment opportunities and reducing the country’s dependence on imported food.

He noted that despite Abia’s relatively limited landmass, the state possesses fertile and arable land capable of supporting the cultivation of a wide range of crops, including cassava, yam, cocoyam, palm and cashew.

Governor Otti also recalled the successes recorded by farm settlements established in the 1950s and 1960s, alongside the experience of the now-defunct Star Paper Mill, as examples of productive ventures that demonstrated the capacity of Nigerians to build sustainable enterprises around local resources.

According to the governor, the proposed agricultural initiative fits into his administration’s broader economic development vision, particularly as excessive reliance on food imports places additional pressure on the foreign exchange market.

He stressed the importance of deliberately investing in local agricultural production, agro-processing and value addition as part of efforts to strengthen the domestic economy and improve food security.

Governor Otti subsequently directed the Commissioner for Agriculture and the Commissioner for Lands to assess available locations across the state that could accommodate the proposed initiative.

The commissioners were also directed to examine existing farm settlements and other suitable locations, with a view to identifying areas that could support the establishment of the NALDA project.

In addition, the governor directed the relevant officials to explore measures that could strengthen the operations of NALDA’s office in Osisioma, further signalling the state government’s willingness to deepen its partnership with the Federal Government’s agricultural development agency.

The meeting brought together key members of the Abia State Executive Council, including the Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Cliff Agbaeze; Commissioner for Lands, Mr. Chaka Chukwumerije; Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Prince Uzor Nwachukwu; Commissioner for Industry and SMEs, Mazi Mike Akpara; and other senior government officials.