Otti announces significant reduction in Abia debt profile, hints at business opportunities at Aba Trade Fair

From Okey Sampson, Umuahia

Abia State Governor Dr Alex Otti has announced a significant reduction in the state’s debt profile, saying it has dropped from ₦147.2bn in the second quarter of 2023 to ₦48.6bn in the second quarter of 2026, a reduction of over ₦90bn.

Governor Otti also hinted at the forthcoming AFRICANDO 2026, the US–Africa Trade and Investment Conference and Expo, as well as the 2026 Aba International Trade Fair, and called on residents of the state and other Nigerians to take advantage of the events to establish valuable business connections and explore investment opportunities.

Governor Otti made these known during the October edition of his monthly media chat, tagged “Dr Alex Otti Speaks to Abians”.

Explaining reports in some quarters suggesting an increase in Abia State’s foreign debt obligations, the governor stated that the development was connected to the drawdown of funds from existing multilateral loan arrangements, including the Abia State Integrated Infrastructure Development Project (ABSID) and the Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP).

The governor insisted that his administration had undertaken no direct borrowing and would only consider responsible borrowing for productive projects when necessary.

“So far, there’s no direct borrowing by the government. But that doesn’t mean we won’t borrow if it becomes absolutely necessary. We will borrow for regenerative projects, at the right time,” Governor Otti stated.

Speaking on public health, Otti said the state had activated precautionary measures following the index case of Ebola in Nigeria. He added that, although no Ebola case had been reported in Abia State, an isolation centre had been designated at the Modern Child Hospital, Umuahia.

The governor urged residents to observe the necessary health protocols without panicking, assuring them that the government was prepared to respond appropriately should the need arise.

Answering a question on concerns about the high fees charged by the Abia State Signage and Advertisement Agency (ABSAA), Otti said the agency was responsible for determining and justifying its charges in line with its revenue targets.

He explained that the agency could review the rates if it considered a reduction necessary, adding that he would not interfere unnecessarily with its operational responsibilities.

Meanwhile, Governor Otti has called on residents of the state and other Nigerians to take advantage of the forthcoming AFRICANDO 2026, the US–Africa Trade and Investment Conference and Expo, as well as the 2026 Aba International Trade Fair, to establish valuable business connections and explore investment opportunities.

AFRICANDO 2026, scheduled for 17–19 November in Umuahia, will be held under the theme “Deepening US–Africa Commercial Ties in the Era of AfCFTA”, while the 2026 Aba International Trade Fair and Exhibition will take place from 27 November to 6 December at Ogbonnaya Onu Polytechnic, Aba.

Otti described the two events as strategic platforms through which Abia businesses, manufacturers and entrepreneurs could connect with international investors, access new markets and attract partnerships capable of stimulating economic growth.

He said the events were part of his administration’s efforts to create an enabling business environment and bring investment opportunities closer to the people.

“It is a gathering of Africans, Americans and Nigerians. And the whole idea is to bring everybody together and create opportunities that hitherto did not exist.

“So people should live here and be able to make those kind of contacts that they ordinarily would have travelled to make, and that is why it becomes critical when we are talking about creating an enabling environment.”

Going further, Otti said, “You can see many events happening in Aba and Umuahia. The International Trade Fair will also be happening in December. I know that towards the end of the year, it is going to be intense and full of activities, so we need to prepare ourselves.”

He disclosed that the major objective of the conference was to connect the entrepreneurial capacity of Aba and other parts of Abia with international markets, moving from the traditional “Made in Aba” identity to “Made in Abia for the World”.

Otti said AFRICANDO 2026 was expected to position Umuahia as a meeting point for enterprise and that it would be transaction-driven, with emphasis on business deals, partnerships, investments and market access.

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