U.K Moves to Deepen Partnership With Abia as Baxter Visits Gov. Alex Otti, Inspects Geometric Power in Aba

The United Kingdom has signalled a stronger commitment to partnering with the Abia State Government in critical sectors including digital transformation, electricity, trade, investment, education, transportation and governance, as the British Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. Jonny Baxter, led a high-level delegation to the State.

Baxter made the commitment on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, when he led officials of the British High Commission on a courtesy visit to the Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Chioma Otti, OFR, at the Governor’s office in Umuahia.

The visit formed part of a two-day official engagement by the Deputy High Commissioner in Abia and came ahead of the State-level Digital Transformation Programme scheduled to take place in the State.

The engagement provided an opportunity for the UK delegation and the Abia Government to explore areas where deeper cooperation could translate into investment, improved infrastructure, stronger institutions, digital inclusion and expanded economic opportunities for residents.

Speaking during the meeting, Baxter said the United Kingdom places significant value on its longstanding relationship with Nigeria, describing the partnership as one rooted in common interests, values and shared experiences.

“The United Kingdom has a really strong partnership with Nigeria. It is a partnership based on so many shared interests and values and shared experiences in so much depth, and it is a partnership that, on the UK side, we value massively,” Baxter said.

He explained that the relationship has increasingly moved beyond traditional diplomatic engagement to encompass trade, investment, technology, economic development and programmes designed to strengthen opportunities at the sub-national level.

According to him, the U.K is particularly interested in supporting initiatives that can help different parts of Nigeria unlock their economic potential.

Baxter disclosed that two U.K-supported programmes are already active in Abia, demonstrating the growing scope of cooperation between the State and British development partners.

One of the programmes highlighted by Baxter was the Financial Sector Deepening Africa initiative, FSD Africa, which is supporting efforts in Abia to mobilise private-sector financing for an integrated waste management and recycling project in partnership with Kaltani.

The initiative reflects an emerging approach to waste management that goes beyond simply collecting and disposing of waste, with greater emphasis on recycling, resource recovery and the creation of economic value from materials that would otherwise become environmental burdens.

Baxter also highlighted the Digital Access Programme, DAP, which is supporting efforts to create the policy, regulatory and institutional conditions required to expand digital inclusion and participation in the digital economy.

The programme is expected to support policy and regulatory development, capacity building and stakeholder engagement, with activities in Abia designed to expand residents’ access to digital opportunities.

“The UK’s Digital Access Programme has previously supported digital inclusion, digital skills and policy development in Nigeria,” he added.

The Deputy High Commissioner further disclosed that the UK is working with communities in Arochukwu and Okporoenyi to establish sustainable connectivity hubs that will give residents access to the internet and digital services.

The initiative is expected to strengthen digital access in communities where connectivity remains a significant barrier to participation in the modern economy.

A major component of Baxter’s Abia engagement was his visit to the Geometric Power Plant in Aba, where he assessed the integrated electricity project and its potential impact on the State’s industrial and commercial ecosystem.

The visit brought electricity firmly into the centre of discussions on Abia’s economic transformation.

Baxter described what he saw at the facility as fascinating, particularly against the backdrop of Nigeria’s longstanding electricity challenges.

“It is really clear that one of the key constraints in Nigeria’s economy at the moment is the availability of power, the reliability of power and the affordability of power.

“To see this integrated project here, working and providing solutions to that, was really fascinating,” Mr. Baxter stated.

He also commended the deployment of reliable metering technology, noting its importance in establishing confidence and trust between electricity providers and consumers.

For the U.K delegation, the Geometric Power project provided a practical example of how infrastructure capable of delivering reliable and affordable electricity can help remove one of the major obstacles confronting businesses.

Baxter noted that reliable electricity, combined with digital connectivity and other enabling infrastructure, could create an environment where businesses are better positioned to invest, expand and create employment.

The Deputy High Commissioner also expressed interest in Abia’s efforts to create an environment capable of retaining skilled professionals and encouraging young people to contribute to the development of their communities.

His comments came against the backdrop of discussions around migration and the need to ensure that Nigerians who travel abroad have accurate information about the realities they may encounter.

Baxter referenced the migration summit to be hosted by Abia State, describing the conversation around creating incentives for skilled people to remain and contribute to their communities as important.

He also indicated that Nigerians who choose to migrate should have better information about the opportunities and challenges awaiting them abroad.

Baxter assured the Governor that the United Kingdom would continue exploring opportunities for collaboration with the Abia State Government, businesses and companies.

The partnership, he indicated, could include helping Abia-based businesses establish relationships with potential British partners and gain access to international supply chains.

Such collaboration could potentially strengthen market access for locally produced goods while exposing businesses in Abia to new investment, technology and international commercial opportunities.

Governor Alex Otti thanked Baxter and the British High Commission delegation for visiting Abia, assuring them that the State remained open to partnerships capable of advancing its economic development.

The Governor placed particular emphasis on the Geometric Power project, stressing that electricity remains fundamental to the survival and expansion of Abia’s manufacturing and business ecosystem.

According to Governor Otti, businesses ultimately bear a much heavier financial burden when electricity supply is unreliable because they are forced to depend on generators, diesel and costly maintenance.

“Once you have reliable power, whatever the cost is, it is still going to be cheaper than not having reliable power,” the Governor said.

The Governor explained that Aba possesses a strong manufacturing base, particularly in footwear, garments and other locally produced goods, and that his administration is working to transform the strength of the existing enterprise ecosystem into a more competitive export-oriented economy.

He said the State is working with development partners, including the United Nations Development Programme, UNDP, to improve finishing, packaging and export opportunities for products made in Abia.

Governor Otti also disclosed that his administration is working to extend reliable electricity supply beyond Aba.

The State Government, he said, is pursuing the necessary rights and regulatory arrangements that would enable Abia operate as an integrated power market, while leveraging infrastructure already available through Geometric Power.

On waste management, Governor Otti welcomed the information that Kaltani is working with UK partners, saying Abia is interested in moving beyond conventional waste collection towards recycling and the conversion of waste into useful products and energy.

“If you can generate energy, if you can also generate products by recycling the waste, why not? So, I’m glad that they are working with UK partners. But there is a whole lot more that can be done,” the Governor stated.

Governor Otti assured the delegation that Abia would fully participate in the Digital Access Programme engagement scheduled for Thursday.

He said the State Government would continue working with the UK team to identify practical areas of collaboration capable of expanding digital opportunities for residents and strengthening the State’s institutional capacity.

The meeting also turned to one of Nigeria’s significant human-capital challenges: the migration of skilled professionals, particularly healthcare workers.

Governor Otti disclosed that his administration had approved the recruitment of close to 1,000 healthcare professionals, with approximately 200 vacancies still to be filled.

He also disclosed plans to establish a medical city in Abia, revealing that discussions had already commenced with a company working with UK partners on the proposed project.

The administration sees the planned investment as part of a broader strategy to strengthen healthcare infrastructure, improve access to specialised medical services and reduce the need for residents to seek treatment outside Nigeria.

“The whole idea is to reverse medical tourism. So if we have comparable facilities and healthcare professionals, nobody needs to go to Dubai or India to access quality medical care,” Governor Otti said.

The Deputy High Commissioner’s visit goes beyond the courtesy meeting with Governor Otti, with the two-day programme featuring engagements with key stakeholders and tours of major projects across the State.

Discussions are centred on power, trade and commerce, digital transformation, transportation, education and governance, reflecting the breadth of issues under consideration in the emerging UK-Abia partnership.

The engagement also creates opportunities for government-to-government and business-to-business connections, particularly in sectors where Abia is seeking international expertise, investment and access to wider markets.

For the Otti administration, the growing engagement with the United Kingdom aligns with its broader push to build infrastructure, strengthen institutions, attract investment and position Abia as a competitive destination for enterprise.

Governor Otti thanked Baxter and his delegation for the visit and expressed optimism that the discussions would translate into stronger partnerships capable of supporting the State’s ongoing economic transformation.

The Chief of Staff to the Gove rnor, Pastor Caleb Ajagba, Ph.D., and other top government officials were also present during the meeting.