Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has declared that his administration is more interested in sustainable business partnerships than aid or handouts, as he positions the state as Nigeria’s hub for small and medium-scale enterprises, SMEs, and seeks foreign investment to unlock opportunities in energy, technology, and infrastructure.
Speaking in Umuahia during a visit by the United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Richard Mills, the governor said his administration was focused on reforms that will make Abia a natural destination for serious investors, especially in areas of power, petroleum, agriculture, and digital economy.
“We don’t believe in grants and aid; rather, we seek partnership, believing that there is a lot of value that we can add working together,” Otti said.
“This is probably the SME capital of Nigeria, and I think there are a lot of areas where you can be of help to us, and we can also be of help to America.”
The governor explained that reforms were ongoing in healthcare, education, waste management, energy, and technology, stressing that his administration was determined to provide the enabling environment investors need.
“It is not all the time that the American Government visits a state. So, it’s a mark of endorsement as far as we are concerned here,” he added.
Energy and infrastructure were also in focus during the closed-door meeting, where Otti’s team—including commissioners for power, petroleum and mineral resources, transport, agriculture, and environment—outlined investment opportunities in electricity distribution, renewable energy, and gas development.
The governor said Abia was ready to partner with credible investors to expand access to reliable electricity and support SMEs with affordable power.
Such partnerships could help bridge the infrastructure deficit in the Southeast, where inadequate power supply has been a major obstacle to industrialization.
Abia, home to a thriving SME sector centered in Aba, is seen as a prime location for U.S. companies interested in manufacturing, renewable energy, and technology transfer.
For Otti, the message was clear: Abia is open for business, not aid. “We seek partners, not handouts. Together, we can create value that benefits both Abia and the United States,” he said.
United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Richard Mills, who was on a two-day working visit to Abia, lauded Otti’s leadership style, noting that it has already brought visible changes in governance, infrastructure, and security across the state.
“Your leadership in Abia has brought real change here, positive change. Your focus on infrastructure, on security challenges, has really transformed the state. And we believe that it is a powerful example of how to improve governance, really, across the Southeast.”
Highlighting the strong alignment between Abia’s reform agenda and U.S. business interests, Mills said American investors are increasingly looking toward states that can guarantee transparency, accountability, and security.
“There are tremendous opportunities here for our business, our commercial interests, and Nigeria’s. Your administration’s commitment to fostering economic growth, empowering youth, and creating a more transparent and more accountable government really aligns very closely with our goals and what U.S. business needs to see if it’s going to invest,” he noted.
Mills’ visit also comes at a time when the U.S. government is strengthening sub-national engagement in Nigeria, with an eye on building economic resilience and promoting stability in regions with strong business potential.
The ambassador was accompanied by a delegation of US officials, while Governor Otti was flanked by senior members of his cabinet, including Secretary to the State Government, Professor Kenneth Kalu, and Chief of Staff, Pastor Caleb Ajagba.
