Governor Alex Otti has declared that his deliberate efforts in rebuilding Abia State is to lay a solid foundation on which sustainable future development of the State will be built.
Among the drivers of his governance vision, Governor Otti explained, include creating an enabling environment attractive to investments and encourage Abians in the diaspora to return home and provide better opportunities for the younger generation.
Governor Otti stated while interacting with a socioeconomic group, Umu-Aba Connect, in Umuahia, that the renewed business environment is already attracting private investments, particularly in the hospitality sector.
Otti challenged members to stay true to their dreams and keep up the good work, assuring them that the State is becoming increasingly attractive for investment and business.
“I can assure you, we can never go back. We have left Egypt and we can’t go back,” Gov. Otti declared, adding that his administration had “practically recovered Aba.”
He disclosed that as a natural offshoot of the conducive business environment Hilton is coming to the State to complement Radisson Blu, already in Aba with the ongoing redevelopment of Enyimba Hotel, with its wider economic impact for the State, just as the Italian embassy is exploring the possibility of partnership with Aba shoemakers.
“Once the enabling environment has been created, businessmen and businesses are rational. The whole idea is just to do our own things at our own small level to attract our people. I see a lot of you relocating back anytime soon. But, it has to be an economic decision. We don’t force people; we create the enabling environment,” the Governor stated.
The Governor also told the group of young entrepreneurs that government plans to develop Ifeobara, to a lake resort with luxury residential estates suitable for the highly successful class like members of Umu-Aba Connect, as well as plans to flag-off the reconstruction of Uratta and Old Express Roads in October to help decongest the area.
“It may be the next place you want to live in. Because we are building a lake there and then putting high-ground residences,” Otti said, adding, “We are saying that we are planning for the future. We have the future in mind. We want our children not to experience the difficulties.”
The Governor said his administration is committed to providing quality educational facilities, including Smart Schools, and invited members of the group to visit the public schools reconstructed by his administration
Earlier, the President General of Umu-Aba Connect Association, Dr. Chima Anyaso, said the association was formed by young, successful and progressive individuals born and raised in Aba, with the objective of giving back to the society that shaped them, saying the decision to return to Aba for its AGM was significant, as members who had previously relocated due to deteriorating conditions could now proudly return to their roots.
Also speaking, the Vice President of the association, Mr. Ugochukwu Duru, while applauding Otti for the transformation across the State, particularly in infrastructure and security, noted that the improved security and infrastructure had restored confidence among members in the diaspora to return to the State, and proof that meaningful development and effective governance are possible in Nigeria.
