Otti beckons on US to assist boost Abia’s economy

… lists power, access to finance as prohibitive factors

From Boniface Okoro, Umuahia

Photo

Gov Alex Otti and Mike Ervin, during the visit

Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has called on the United States of American government to help the state solve the problems of power supply and access to finance to boost the economy of Abia.

Otti presented his request to a delegation from  the United States Consulate in Nigeria, noting that when these impedidents are tackled, it would help in promoting trade, investment and other areas of interest in the state.

The Governor spoke when he received in audience, the Political and Economic Section Chief of the US Consulate, a Lagos, Mike Ervin, who was in the State on a working visit with his team.

He highlighted a number of challenges confronting the State, especially the business sector, to include access to finance, power and logistics support in the area of digital economy,  among others.

Governor Otti, however, disclosed that the issue of power supply in Aba would soon be over, following the upcoming  commissioning of the Geometric power plant by the Presidency on Monday, February 26, 2024.

According to the Governor, Abia prides itself as a major trading and industrial hub in Nigeria, as it Aba has over 50,000 shoe manufacturers and is also very strong in fabrics and garment productions.

He regretted that the State has suffered setbacks in the past due to infrastructural decay, but said the situation has changed for good as many businesses that hitherto relocated from Aba to other states were gradually returning back to the Enyimba commercial city. This is because the current administration has, in the last eight months, fixed many roads in the state, especially in Aba, Otti revealed.

“In the past, we have suffered quite some setbacks because of infrastructural decay. You really cannot do much when infrastructure is not there, that is why when we came, we started pursuing the rejuvenation and rehabilitation of infrastructure, in particular, roads, drainages; not forgetting security and, in the last eight months, we have been able to fix many roads in Aba which is also the industrial and trading hub of Abia State,” Governor Otti said.

“You can come in as United States to assist us, if we solve the power problem, then there’s another problem which is access to finance and these days of expensive dollars, people are running away from foreign currency funding. But I believe we can sit down and think out a process whereby even if it is for government to provide a guarantee and help against fluctuations in the foreign currency price, so that our people can be sure of support that they can pay back,” the Governor added.

Earlier, the Lagos US Consulate, Political and Economic Section Chief, Mike Ervin, who explained that the Consulate covers the 17 Southern States of Nigeria, said their mission was to seek ways to expand bilateral trade and investment and ensure prosperity between the United States and Nigeria.

“As you know in the US consulate in Lagos, we cover the 17 Southern states and our top job more than any other, is to seek ways to expand bilateral trade and investment and expand shared prosperity between our people.

 “Our people share a long history of partnership and that was highlighted by the visit of our Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, in Nigeria a couple of weeks ago where he spoke very eloquently and strongly on the significance and importance of US- Nigeria bilateral relationship and our desire is to seek ways of expanding that relationship to build prosperity for our people, ” Ervin said.

He thanked Governor Otti for opening the doors of Abia State to them to talk about ways they can find opportunities to build shared prosperity for their people.

The Commissioner for Trade, Commerce and Industry, Dr. Chimezie Ukegbu , Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Digital Economy, Chibuzor Elizabeth Chijioke and the Technical Assistant to the Governor, Charles Egeonu, were present during the visit.