Governor Alex Otti of Abia State has promised that the state would partner with commercial banks, local and international development agencies, venture capitalists and independent investors to support micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the state.
Otti made the promise Monday during his inauguration as the 5th civilian governor of Abia State, held at the Umuahia Township Stadium.
He explained that his administration would target MSMEs in high impact areas, such as information communication technology (ICT), agriculture, small-scale manufacturing, fashion, leatherworks, and other areas where the state has strong comparative advantage.
Otti said that the state under him, would leverage some of the major reforms in the power sector to provide structural support in the form of steady electricity access for these entrepreneurs.
He said that his administration shall also make sure that the major obstacles to business success, such as poor road networks, over-taxation and restricted access to local and global markets are timeously dealt with.
The new Abia State Governor noted that Aba, the State’s commercial hub is a city that is dear to his heart and critical to his leadership agenda and intends to work tirelessly to restore the glory of the beloved Enyimba City.#
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He promised that the new administration in Abia State will in the next one week, announce the setting up of the most suitable administrative and investment vehicles to drive the social and economic rejuvenation of Aba.
“My dear brothers and sisters, I can tell you one thing for sure: the glorious days of Aba will soon return. As you are already aware, I had mandated the leadership of one of the most notable construction companies in Nigeria to carry out preliminary assessment of some critical portions of Aba roads.
“I can assure you that we shall work with the best to fix Aba. Beyond working to retain the city’s status as a leading trade destination in Nigeria and across West Africa, we shall also do whatever is necessary to see that Aba’s manufacturing base is restored.
“Our government shall create the necessary partnerships that will expand energy options for manufacturers, including liquefied natural gas (LNG) and renewable energy sources in addition to providing strategic support to the existing investors in the energy ecosystem in the city.”
He continued, “We shall also position Aba as an ICT innovation hub in the region, providing support where needed and making sure the young men and women who are already doing remarkable things in that sector are offered the leverage they need to succeed and grow.”
While Aba remains most critical to his administration’s agenda, Otti said that Umuahia, the State capital, shall also receive significant and necessary attention.
He said that his administration has developed well-thought-out policies and programmes to drive strategic infrastructural development in Umuahia that will turn it into a model city with world class infrastructure and a favourite destination for businesses, family life and leisure.
Apart from Aba and Umuahia, he said that the new administration shall also extend development to every other part of the State, ensuring that the frontiers of opportunities are expanded in ways that can offer the people, no matter where they live, a supportive environment for the actualisation of their dreams.
He stressed that a healthy urban environment shall be a major priority for this government.
To that effect, he immediately declared a state of emergency on refuse disposal and waste management in Aba and Umuahia and directed the leadership of the state’s environmental management agency, (ASEPA) to roll out everything at its disposal and see that all refuse heaps within these two cities are promptly evacuated.
