Umuhia, Nov. 25, 2025 (Naija247news/NAN) – Governor Alex Otti has called on Turkish investors to seize Abia State’s economic opportunities, citing the state’s infrastructure, skilled workforce, and industrial innovation as strong incentives for global partnerships.
Otti made the appeal on Tuesday during the opening ceremony of the three-day Abia–Turkiye Investment Summit/ Summit Product Exhibition 2025 in Umuahia. He said Abia has built the security architecture, human capital, and industrial infrastructure needed to support major manufacturing and commercial ventures.
“Abia is an economy on the rise. If you are looking for where to invest, you don’t need to look any further,” Otti said, urging investors to leverage the state’s competitive edge, extensive road networks, steady power supply in industrial clusters, and Ariaria International Market, one of Africa’s largest commercial centres.
The governor highlighted the Abia Industrial Innovation Park as a hub for oil, gas, and manufacturing, designed to operate on independent power with large-scale industrial support. He also pointed to opportunities in housing, logistics, metal fabrication, fabrics, and leather production, noting that the globally renowned Akwete textile was poised for international expansion.
On agriculture, Otti said investors could expect profitable value chains, with reliable data guiding decisions across crop production, processing, and exports. He assured full government backing and streamlined administrative processes to boost investor confidence.
The governor also encouraged Turkish businesses to collaborate with Abia’s Micro, Small and Medium Enterprisessector, particularly in product packaging, branding, and export competitiveness.
In remarks, Dr Jobson Ewalefoh, Director-General of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), underscored the commission’s commitment to fostering successful public-private partnerships (PPPs). Ewalefoh, represented by Dr Amanze Okere, said PPP projects undergo competitive procurement, rigorous due diligence, and training for government personnel through the Nigeria Institute of Infrastructure and PPP.
He cited examples of subnational PPP projects, including the Lekki and Bakassi Deep Seaports, Ondo Multi-purpose Seaport, and federal initiatives like the Aba Shoe Factory and Daikon Soil Project in Kaduna with Turkish partners. Ewalefoh also highlighted new ICRC PPP guidelines aimed at accelerating infrastructure delivery, enhancing transparency, and attracting private capital.
Mr Erdal Tozoghu, Commercial Counsellor at the Turkish Embassy in Nigeria, reaffirmed Turkiye’s commitment to strengthening business ties with Abia. “We hope this summit becomes a regular tradition and that more Turkish companies will join future editions,” he said.
Other speakers, including Mr Eniola Ojajuni and Mr Abiodun Aderohunmu of Vega Growing Global Enterprises, spotlighted investment opportunities in textiles, agriculture, and manufacturing, praising Otti’s reforms for making Abia a top South-East investment destination.
Dr Salome Obiukwu, Commissioner for Trade and Commerce, described the summit as a bold step toward deepening economic cooperation and exposing Abia’s thriving sectors—including manufacturing, agriculture, real estate, energy, healthcare, ICT, and logistics—to international investors.
The event featured panel discussions and an exhibition showcasing made-in-Abia products.
(NAN)
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Godwin Okafor is the Publisher & CEO of Naija247news Media Group LLC, an independent investigative news platform delivering accurate, data-driven reporting on Nigerian and global politics, economy, finance, and business. Founded in October 2010, Naija247news specializes in developmental journalism, providing timely insights and analysis to readers across Nigeria and the diaspora.
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