BUSINESS
“So, Home Is Still Home, We Want to Start by Getting Them to Come Back” — Gov. Alex Otti Urges Abians Worldwide to Bring Investments Home, Declares Aba Recovered, Throws Star Paper Mill Challenge to Abiriba People
— Assures on Erosion Control, Power Restoration and Akahaba Hospital as ACIU Pledges 2027 Support
The Executive Governor of Abia State, Dr Alex Chioma Otti, OFR, has urged Abians at home and in diaspora to bring their investments back home as a strategic pathway to accelerating the development and industrial rebirth of the State.
Governor Otti made the call on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, in his office while receiving in audience a high-powered delegation of the Abiriba Communal Improvement Union (ACIU) World Wide, led by its General President, Chief Yuccee Ottah Uwah.
The Governor declared that his administration has successfully recovered Aba and laid the foundation for a robust business environment across the State, stressing that the attraction of investments into Abia remains a top priority of his government.
According to him, deliberate government actions are geared towards creating a solid foundation and enabling environment that would encourage massive inflow of investments.
“For us as a government, some of the things we do are a way of laying the foundation and creating the enabling environment for investment to flow in.
“So, we wanted to recover Aba first, which we have done now, and other parts of the State. And having done that, we have armed our people to get their investments back.
“It is good to talk about foreign investment, but you will be amazed at how much local investment that has gone out there. A lot of your people have manufacturing outposts in China, Turkey, and the rest of them.
“So, home is still home, we want to start by getting them to come back. And a lot of them are coming back,” Governor Otti stated.
Governor Otti specifically challenged the Abiriba people to take advantage of the Star Paper Mill, previously owned by their illustrious son, late Chief Nnanna Kalu, and recently acquired by the Abia State Government from the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) after several years of being moribund.
He revealed that the State Government has fully paid AMCON and now has complete ownership of the facility, noting that his administration is not interested in running the factory but in handing it over to competent private sector players who can revive it and create jobs for the people.
“I’m happy you also spoke about Star Paper Mill. We have taken it over completely. We have paid AMCON. It now belongs to Abia State Government.
“We are open. As a government, we don’t intend to run it. That’s not our job. Our job is to encourage the private sector, because it’s the job of the private sector to run business.
“But as a government, it would be irresponsible of us to sit here and allow companies like that to die.
“So, if you have people who are interested, who have the capacity, who also have the capital and have the character, then we are happy to discuss with them so that we can put it back.
“I’ve received a lot of proposals, including proposals from China. But I’m wary to hand it over to foreigners when a local set it up several years ago.
”So, Mr. President (of ACIU), it’s a challenge that I’m throwing back at you to say, yes, we’ve taken it back, but we still need our people to come and invest and turn it around and employ our people. That’s all that I’m interested in.
“So, that’s the message, for every one of us. And there are no better people to give this message than Abiriba people,” Governor Otti stated.
To institutionalize the investment drive, the Governor directed his Chief of Staff, Commissioners and other relevant officials to engage the Abiriba leadership and adopt a coordinated strategy to reach Abians across the diaspora and major cities.
“who are in different places, in the diaspora, in Lagos, in Abuja, in Ghana, in Jos, in different places. We want to get them back home.
“They don’t necessarily need to close what they are doing there, but whenever they are thinking of expansion, their passion should be back home,” Governor Otti maintained.
Responding to the concerns raised by the Abiriba community, Governor Otti assured that holistic efforts are already underway to restore electricity in Abiriba and the entire Abia North zone, while sustainable solutions would be deployed to address the ravaging erosion challenges in their communities.
He also announced that renovation works at the Akahaba General Hospital would commence soon and thanked the Abiriba community for their traditional hospitality, particularly for hosting him in Aba on June 12 last year.
Earlier in his address, the General President of ACIU World Wide, Chief Yuccee Ottah Uwah, commended Governor Alex Otti for his giant strides in transforming Abia State, stating that the delegation came to formally appreciate him for the numerous projects executed across the State.
He specifically mentioned the Umuahia–Uzuakoli–Akara–Alayi–Abiriba Road renamed Joe Irukwu Road, the ongoing redesign of Akahaba General Hospital, and the fulfillment of the Governor’s promise to reclaim the Star Paper Mill, among others.
Chief Uwah assured the Governor of the total support of the Abiriba community ahead of the 2027 elections.
He also drew the Governor’s attention to the severe erosion challenges confronting their communities, the absence of electricity in Abiriba for about 15 years, and informed him of their intention to activate their international networks to attract investors to Abia State, noting that the Governor has fixed Abia and restored security.
In his contribution, former Secretary to the Abia State Government, Prof. Mkpa Agu Mkpa, poured encomiums on Governor Otti for what he described as unprecedented performance across all sectors of the State’s economy, declaring that the Governor’s achievements have surpassed those of all previous civilian administrations in Abia State.
“Your Excellency, I am privileged, and I give God the glory that I have traversed all the administrations in the civilian administration, through Orji Uzor Kalu, through T.A Orji, and through Governor Ikpeazu.
“But I dare to say, and without any fear of contradiction or equivocation, that in two years, you’ve done what could not be done in 24 years.
“Nobody ever imagined that the roads in Umuahia, metropolis, could be widened, asphalted as they are today.
“Certain things we thought were privileges, you have liberalised.
“For eight years, I sought for a certificate of occupancy (CofO) before you came.
“Surprisingly, when you came, I received a phone call from that office, and they said, you applied for a C of O years back. Come and receive your C of O.
“For me, it looked like a dream. I said, could this be Abia? Could this happen in Abia State? This is a transformed Abia.
“I wished I had the opportunity to serve in this administration. Because all my efforts in the previous administrations, I appeared to be drowned.
“And all of us were classified as unproductive. It’s a pride and for those of you who are in this administration, thank your God. Because you are part of the glory that he is making of us,” Prof. Mkpa declared.
The erudite professor further thanked the Governor for assembling a team of professionals who serve the State with humility, singling out the Chief of Staff as exemplary in humility and accessibility, which he noted is uncommon compared to what the office represented in the past.
Those present at the meeting included the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Pastor Caleb Ajagba, Ph.D; Commissioner for Arts, Culture and Creative Economy, Chief Matthew Ekwuruibe; Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mrs Magdalene Ugoanusi; and 
the Executive Secretary, Abia State Diaspora Commission, Rev. Annie Onu.