Abia State Governor Alex Otti has called on investors who previously relocated from the state, along with prospective ones, to return and invest, citing the improved business climate under his administration.
He made the appeal on Sunday during the commissioning of a new hospitality facility in Aba. Otti said his government had, over the past three years, created conditions that are drawing investors back to the state.The governor pointed to ongoing infrastructure upgrades and a better operating environment as sources of fresh investment opportunities.
He attributed the visible changes in Aba and elsewhere in the state to deliberate efforts to fix long-standing infrastructure gaps and make the area more business-friendly.Otti recalled the poor state of Port Harcourt Road in Aba before he took office. His administration, he said, cleared debris and obstacles, rehabilitated the road, and launched other projects aimed at opening up the city and supporting economic activity.
He added that the scale of infrastructure work now underway across Abia would unlock further opportunities for individuals and businesses. Investors and residents who left Aba should return, he urged, to take advantage of the city’s ongoing transformation.
“Time is ripe for investment in Abia,” Otti said, warning that those who delay may struggle to find space once others move in.He assured prospective investors that the state government would continue providing the infrastructure and supportive conditions needed for businesses to succeed.
On the new hotel, Otti praised Owelle Greg Okafor, chief executive of ORIS Signature Hotel, for investing in Aba. The project, he noted, would create jobs for Abia residents, boost the state’s gross domestic product, help reduce poverty, raise internally generated revenue, and offer better accommodation for travellers and guests.
“This is going to add to the employment of Abia people, which is the number one priority for us,” Otti said.