Otti Seeks US Assistance to Grow Abia Economy
Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo in Umuahia
Abia State Governor, Mr. Alex Otti, has said that he would like the government of the United States of America to assist his administration in its efforts to rebuild the state’s economy.
He noted that the US could give a helping hand through promotion of trade, investments and engaging in other areas of interest that would have positive impact on the economic growth of Abia.
Otti’s request, according to his Chief Press Secretary, Kazie Uko, was tabled before Mr. Mike Ervin, the Political and Economic Section Chief of the US Consulate, Lagos, who was on a working visit in Abia with his team.
Otti, who received the US Consulate team with open arms, took time to update the diplomats on how fat his government has faired in the last months in governance.
He also highlighted a number of challenges facing Abia, specially in the business sector, including poor power supply, difficulty in accessing credits, absence of logistic support in the area of digital economy, among others.
Nonetheless, the Abia governor told his visitors that the issue of power supply has received adequate attention and was expected to be resolved with the inauguration of Geometric Power, a private integrated power project on February 26, 2024.
He particularly noted that with the coming of Geometric Power, which would generate and distribute power to Aba, the issue of power supply to the commercial city would be finally resolved.
The power plant, which had been in the works for the past 10 years, is expected to generate and distribute over 180 megawatts of electricity to Aba when operating in full capacity. It’s reckoned that this power output would be more than enough to meet the power needs of Aba and its environs.
The Abia chief executive told his US guests that Aba has over 50,000 shoe producers and a host of entrepreneurs engaged in garment production, leather works and various other small and medium enterprises, as well as manufacturing.
He said that though Abia prides itself as a major trading and industrial hub in Nigeria, the state had experienced setbacks in recent years due to decay in infrastructure, resulting in closure or relocation of many businesses.
But he noted that the situation was changing for better as some of the businesses that had relocated are gradually returning following the commitment of his administration to fix the infrastructural deficit.
Otti stated that in the last eight months his administration had been engaged in the upgrading of critical infrastructure and sanitising the environment to allow for the ease of doing business.
“You really cannot do much when infrastructure is not there; that was why, when we came, we started pursuing the rejuvenation and rehabilitation of infrastructure,” he said.
Otti noted that aside from fixing dilapidated roads, drainages, his government had in the past eight months tackled security issues and initiated policies that make the business environment conducive.
He further requested that the US should look into the issue of access to finance and how it could assist Abia people overcome the problem.
The Abia governor assured the US government that his government was ready “to provide a guarantee and help against fluctuations in the foreign currency price, so that our people can be sure of support; they can pay back.”
Mr.Ervin had earlier told Governor Otti that the US Consulate in Lagos covers the 17 Southern states of Nigeria, adding that “our top job more than any other, is to seek ways to expand bilateral trade and investment and expand shared prosperity between our people”.
He stated that “one message Secretary Blinkin has been taking around the world” is the American “desire is to seek ways of expanding” relationships to build shared prosperity for our people”.
The Chief of the Political and Economic Section of the US Consulate in Lagos, therefore thanked the Abia Governor for opening the doors of Abia State to them to discuss ways they could find opportunities to build shared prosperity for Abia people.
