Gov. Otti Urges Private Sector to Drive Abia’s Economic Growth

Umuahia, Abia State – Governor Alex Otti on Thursday said his administration is prioritising infrastructure development and business-friendly policies to attract private sector investment and stimulate economic growth in Abia State. The governor made the remarks at the maiden Abia Business Roundtable, organised by the state government in Umuahia.

Governor Otti stressed that the government recognised early on the need to lead the way in economic transformation before inviting private sector participation. “Our decision to invest heavily in critical infrastructure, alongside introducing a six-month tax holiday for small businesses, is aimed at removing barriers to productivity and encouraging investors,” he said.

Highlighting the major constraints to private sector engagement, Otti cited poor road infrastructure, security concerns, unreliable power supply, and multiple taxation by government agencies. In response, his administration launched an extensive road infrastructure restoration programme, starting with economically strategic areas of the state.

“Although the scale of investment in road infrastructure comes with significant opportunity costs, our commitment to rebuilding the business ecosystem and restoring investor confidence remains unwavering,” he added.

The governor said the initiative is designed to encourage entrepreneurs and business owners who previously shut down operations or relocated to reconsider investing in Abia. He revealed that the government committed more than 80 per cent of its annual budgets in 2024, 2025, and 2026 to capital projects as part of efforts to reposition the state economy.

Expressing appreciation to participants, Otti described the roundtable as the first step in a broader engagement framework aimed at improving information flow between government and the business community. He said insights from panel discussions and breakout sessions would be reviewed and, where appropriate, incorporated into government policies and implementation strategies.

“Our goal is to design public-sector policies aligned with the expectations and realities of private-sector stakeholders,” Otti said, adding that the platform was created to address limitations of policy-making driven solely by bureaucrats.

He reiterated his administration’s commitment to expanding the private sector ecosystem through sustained infrastructure investment, a strategy expected to attract entrepreneurs, create jobs for young people, and revive key economic assets in the state.

Otti also highlighted efforts in human capital development to prepare the workforce for opportunities arising from increased private sector activity. He noted that investors in Abia would benefit from favourable tax policies, a robust security network, a large consumer market, and a strong pool of skilled and unskilled labour.