10th February 2025, NewsOrient, Opinion, Column, News, Governance And Development, Business And Economy
By Emeka Nwosu, PhD.

Since the advent of the administration of Dr. Alex Otti, Abia state has continued to feature in the news for good reasons.

This is a radical departure from the ugly past in which the state trended as one of the most misgoverned and mismanaged in the country.

Today, the story is different. It has been a heartwarming tale of numerous development projects being executed simultaneously in different parts of the state, courtesy of the purposeful leadership of Otti.

Two of such development projects that are bound to reset the infrastructural landscape of Aba, and by extension Abia, are the reconstruction of the iconic Enyimba Hotel and International Conference Centre, and the rehabilitation of the Aba Mega Mall and its conversion into a manufacturing park.

These are laudable economic projects that have a huge potential of turning things around in Aba.

The decision of the Otti administration to reclaim and transform the abandoned Hotel into a 5-star tourist facility is one that gladdens the hearts of well-meaning people of Abia State. The governor appears determined to rebuild Aba and turn it into the Dubai of Eastern Nigeria.

This is evident in the extensive urban renewal programme being implemented in this commercial city.

Governor Otti is clearly intentional in his approach to return the Enyimba city to its old glory.

Last week, in Lagos, Otti signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Radisson Blu, a renowned global brand in the hospitality sector, for the reconstruction, rehabilitation and upgrade of the long abandoned Hotel into a top-class leisure resort.

The project, in partnership with this world acclaimed chain, will feature world-class hospitality and event facilities, including a 2,500 seating capacity main hall, multiple smaller halls, and a large exhibition space. The project is expected to be delivered within one year.

The business community in Aba, and indeed, the entire people of Abia State are very delighted with this wonderful development which would go a long way in repositioning Aba and re-establishing its preeminence as a bustling mega city. The project, when completed, is set to position Aba as a top commercial hub, with a view to attracting investors and boosting economic growth in the state.

When the Enyimba Hotel is fully restored and modernized, it has the potential of transforming Aba into a choice destination for international investors, tourists and pleasure seekers. Abia and Aba would now be in a prime position to host international conferences, meetings, workshops and seminars. This would profoundly impact on the economy of the state.

On the other hand, the Aba Mega Mall had been abandoned for over ten years, with the previous administrations doing nothing to fix it. A glimmer of hope for the mall, however, surfaced a few days ago following a crucial meeting between Otti and a team of investors from Greenfields Assets Limited led by its Group Chairman, Dr. Paul Obanua.

It will be recalled that the multi-million dollar Aba Mega Mall was inaugurated in May 2015 and thereafter abandoned by the previous administration in the state which allowed the project to be in a comatose situation. Governor Otti noted after his meeting with the Greenfields team that his administration was disposed to entering into a partnership with the investors to revive the project and convert it to a major centre of economic activities.

Also addressing newsmen after the meeting, Dr. Obanua said that a consortium of investors has been “lined up to bring investments worth over N50 billion to Aba Mega Mall space to be converted into a manufacturing ecosystem and export hub”, adding that they have outlined their new plans for the abandoned project. He further stated that the Mall would be transformed into a manufacturing services and standardization centre for the hardworking and talented Abia entrepreneurs, especially for garments and shoes.

The Otti administration deserves special accolades for its untiring efforts at the infrastructural upliftment of the state. He has shown uncommon determination to transform and restore the state, particularly Aba, to its lost glory. The icing on the cake is the Abia Airport project at Nsulu which is being executed by the Federal Government in partnership with the Abia State Government.

When the Airport comes fully on stream, the State will become easily accessible to international investors and the Abia Diaspora. And with such top notch facility as the upcoming rechristened Enyimba Hotels in place, Abia will become a tourist haven, attracting travelers and tourists from across the globe.

Dr. Nwosu, a Public Policy Analyst, writes from Umuahia.
Email: cdnwosu2@gmail.com