Otti Calls on Abia Diaspora to Channel Investments Back Home

Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti, has appealed to Abians living at home and abroad to redirect their investments to the state as part of efforts to accelerate economic growth and job creation.

The governor made the call while receiving a delegation of the Abiriba Communal Improvement Union Worldwide at Nvosi in Isialangwa South Local Government Area. He said his administration has prioritised restoring Aba and improving security and infrastructure to make Abia more attractive to investors.

Otti explained that governments must first create the right business climate before expecting capital inflows, noting that sustained improvements across Aba and other parts of the state are already encouraging renewed investor confidence.

He stressed that while foreign investment is important, substantial indigenous capital owned by Abians is currently tied up in overseas ventures, including manufacturing operations in Asia and Europe. According to him, reclaiming even a fraction of that capital would significantly boost local development.

The governor specifically challenged Abiriba stakeholders to take interest in the Star Paper Mill, recently acquired by the Abia State Government after years of inactivity. He said the facility has the potential to employ up to 2,000 people if revived.

Otti clarified that the state has no intention of running the mill directly, but is open to discussions with credible private investors who have the capacity, funding, and integrity to restore operations and create jobs.

He added that although proposals have come from foreign interests, his administration prefers local investors to take the lead, especially since the factory was originally established by an Abia indigene.

In response, the President of the Abiriba Communal Improvement Union Worldwide, Chief UC Otta Uwah, commended the governor’s performance and pledged the group’s support, assuring him that Abiriba indigenes would engage with the investment opportunities presented by the state.