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The Federal Government said it is exploring ways to support businesses in Abia State, particularly those in the textile and garment cluster in Aba and the agricultural sector.
The Special Adviser to the President on Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr. John Uwajimogu, made the disclosure when he led a delegation to Governor Alex Otti in his office.
Uwajimogu said the delegation was in the state to deepen engagement with the Abia State government and explore areas of collaboration that could attract federal projects and investment opportunities.
He said the Federal Government had taken note of the strong industrial capacity of Aba, particularly in textiles and garments, and was exploring ways to support businesses in the sector by addressing major constraints affecting their operations.
“One of the biggest things that we see coming out of Abia State is the strong industrial capacity in Aba, particularly in the textile and garments sector.
“And, we have been thinking of how, from the federal level, we can support the businesses that are working in that sector and have come up with ideas on how we can address some of the biggest binding constraints that they often face; one being infrastructure, and the other one being finance.
“We are also coming to discuss what we can bring to the table and help resolve and address those binding constraints,” he said.
Uwajimogu added that the Federal Government is interested in bringing its projects and programmes to Abia, noting that the visit was part of efforts to identify areas where both tiers of government could work together to promote economic development.
The Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of the National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA), Cornelius Adebayo, who was part of the delegation, described Governor Otti as a performer and reformer, stressing that NALDA’s core mandate is poverty alleviation through agriculture.
He said the authority is seeking the support of the Abia State government, particularly in providing land for its Renewed Hope Mega Farm Estate programme, which is designed to aggregate farmers, provide infrastructure, improve security, facilitate access to inputs and markets, and create sustainable incomes.
He expressed hope that Abia would host a major NALDA agricultural project, including a processing facility, and appealed to Governor Otti to provide suitable land and support for the initiative.
Governor Otti, responding, expressed the readiness of his administration to collaborate with NALDA and other stakeholders to unlock the agricultural potential of the state.
The governor described the proposed farm settlement initiative as a practical pathway to boosting food production, creating jobs, and reducing dependence on food imports.
He directed the Commissioners for Agriculture and Lands to examine available locations, including existing farm settlements and other suitable areas, while also exploring ways to strengthen the operations of NALDA’s office in Osisioma.
