(DDM) – Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has launched a new initiative aimed at bringing business leaders directly into government decision-making as his administration seeks to reshape the state’s economic policies.
DDM notes that the governor convened a high-level business roundtable in Umuahia designed to encourage collaboration between the Abia State Government and the organised private sector.
The event, themed “Government Meets Business: Where Vision Meets Enterprise,” brought together industry leaders, development partners, financial institutions, and entrepreneurs from different sectors of the economy.
The gathering took place at the Umuahia International Conference Center on Thursday and was presided over by Otti, who also chairs the governing council of the state’s Public-Private Partnership and Investment Promotion Office.
According to the governor, the roundtable was created to ensure that government policies reflect the expectations and operational realities of businesses operating in the state.
He said the initiative is meant to provide a direct communication channel between policymakers and investors while helping government craft policies that support economic growth.
Otti stressed that his administration intends to carefully review recommendations emerging from breakout sessions and panel discussions at the forum.
He added that insights from the discussions would be incorporated into Abia’s economic policy framework.
The governor declared that Abia is “open for business,” emphasizing that the state government is working deliberately to rebuild its economic foundations.
He explained that the ultimate goal is to develop public policies that align with the genuine needs of private sector stakeholders.
Otti also addressed the longstanding global debate over the role of government in economic management.
He noted that while some governments take a heavy regulatory approach, others prefer a free-market system with minimal state involvement.
His administration, he said, has chosen what he described as a pragmatic middle path.
Under this approach, the government focuses on creating incentives, strengthening infrastructure, and guaranteeing economic stability rather than directly running businesses.
Otti argued that government’s responsibility should be to establish a system that protects investors’ interests while ensuring long-term policy consistency.
He said investors are more likely to commit capital when they are confident that government policies will remain predictable and stable.
The governor revealed that when his administration assumed office, it identified several key obstacles discouraging private investment in the state.
These challenges included poor road infrastructure, insecurity, unreliable electricity supply, and multiple taxation imposed on businesses.
Addressing those issues, he said, has become a central priority of his administration.
Otti disclosed that the state government allocated more than 80 percent of its annual budgets for 2024, 2025, and 2026 to capital projects.
A large portion of those funds, he explained, has been directed toward road construction and rehabilitation across the state.
Improving transportation infrastructure, he said, is critical for boosting commerce and reducing the cost of doing business.
In addition to infrastructure investments, the government introduced a six-month tax holiday for small businesses.
The policy was designed to reduce financial pressure on emerging enterprises and stimulate productivity.
Otti also highlighted the prompt payment of salaries and contractors as another strategy to boost economic activity within the state.
According to him, consistent payments help circulate money in the local economy and restore confidence among workers and suppliers.
During a recent state executive council retreat, several sectors were identified as priority areas for future economic expansion.
These include real estate, solid mineral development, hospitality, and information technology.
The government also signaled strong interest in expanding manufacturing and agriculture.
Otti emphasized the importance of adding value along the agricultural chain, including cultivation, storage, processing, and export.
Former Nigerian Ambassador to Singapore, Nonye Rajis-Okpara, who spoke at the event, praised the governor’s leadership and credibility.
She recalled Otti’s role in strengthening investor confidence during his banking career at Diamond Bank.
Rajis-Okpara also explained how previous engagements with Singaporean stakeholders helped reposition Nigeria as a viable investment destination.
She pledged to leverage international networks to attract more investors to Abia State.
Her focus, she said, will be on mechanised agriculture and agro-processing projects capable of generating jobs and sustainable growth.
Another contributor at the roundtable, Ifeanyi Ugwuoke, National Team Lead of the Partnership for Agile Governance and Climate Engagement (PACE), highlighted the growing importance of climate finance.
Ugwuoke disclosed that his organisation has developed a guide to help governments and eco-friendly businesses access global climate funding opportunities.
He revealed that Abia State has already completed a climate finance readiness assessment.
Five businesses in the state, he added, have been matched with potential investors interested in green growth initiatives.
These include emerging sectors such as electric mobility and environmentally sustainable enterprises.
Representing the Aba business community, Chief David Ogba-Onuoha commended the governor for encouraging stronger cooperation between government and entrepreneurs.
He said infrastructure development and policy reforms have already signaled that Abia is serious about attracting investment.
Ogba-Onuoha urged the government to deepen its focus on industrial clusters, technology-driven businesses, and modern infrastructure.
Such steps, he argued, could unlock Aba’s potential as a major manufacturing and innovation hub in West Africa.
The Director-General of the Public-Private Partnership and Investment Promotion Office, Chinedum Chijioke, described the roundtable as a practical engagement.
He said the initiative aims to refine policies, remove bureaucratic barriers, and build long-term partnerships between government and the private sector.
Chijioke assured investors that his office would streamline approvals, mitigate risks, and provide stronger after-care support for business projects.
The Abia Business Roundtable 2026 concluded with breakout sessions focusing on key sectors of the state’s economic transformation.
Participants also engaged in a question-and-answer session with Governor Otti, where business leaders directly raised concerns and offered recommendations.
The forum represents one of the most ambitious attempts by the Abia State Government to integrate private sector voices into economic policymaking as the administration seeks to reposition the state as a competitive investment destination in Nigeria.
