The Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) and the Abia State Government have reiterated the need for sustained reforms, stronger collaboration between the federal and state governments, and a more enabling business environment to drive investment, job creation, and economic growth across Nigeria.

Speaking at the PEBEC Nationwide Subnational Engagement and Technical Reform Workshop held at the Michael Okpara Auditorium, Umuahia, the Deputy Governor of Abia State, Engr. Ikechukwu Emetu, reaffirmed the state’s commitment to business-friendly reforms, declaring that Abia remains open to investment, partnerships, and economic prosperity.

Representing Governor Alex Otti, Emetu welcomed the PEBEC delegation, development partners, private sector stakeholders, and government officials to the workshop. He commended the council for promoting collaboration between the Federal Government and subnational governments in efforts to improve Nigeria’s business environment.

He noted that since assuming office in May 2023, the Otti administration has pursued an ambitious reform agenda focused on strengthening institutions, restoring public confidence, improving infrastructure, and creating an enabling environment for businesses to thrive.

According to the Deputy Governor, the administration has invested heavily in critical infrastructure, particularly the reconstruction of roads linking commercial centres, industrial clusters, markets, and communities across the state, thereby improving connectivity and boosting investor confidence.

He also highlighted efforts to strengthen security through technology-driven initiatives, enhanced intelligence gathering, and stronger inter-agency collaboration, describing Abia as increasingly safer and more attractive to investors.

Emetu stated that the government has embraced digital transformation by modernising government processes, expanding fibre-optic infrastructure, digitising key public services, and promoting data-driven governance across Ministries, Departments, and Agencies.

He identified land administration reform as one of the state’s most significant achievements, citing the introduction of the “Certificate of Occupancy in 30 Days” initiative.

“Since May 2023, this administration has issued more than 4,407 Certificates of Occupancy, exceeding the cumulative number issued by previous administrations over the preceding 24 years,” he disclosed.

He explained that the initiative has strengthened property rights, improved access to finance, enhanced investor confidence, and reinforced transparency and efficiency in land administration.

The Deputy Governor further revealed that the state has deployed digital platforms for land administration, established a Citizens Engagement Centre, created One-Stop Investment Centres in Aba and Umuahia, and launched an Export Growth Lab in Aba to support local businesses and expand export opportunities.

On human capital development, Emetu said the government has recruited over 5,300 teachers and more than 600 healthcare workers while expanding opportunities for skills acquisition and youth empowerment.

While acknowledging the progress made, he stressed that reform remains a continuous process and assured participants that the state government would continue to deepen policies that attract investment, stimulate innovation, create jobs, and improve living standards.

Earlier, the Director-General of PEBEC, Princess Zahrah Mustapha Audu, emphasised the need for stronger collaboration between the Federal Government and state governments to build a more competitive and investment-friendly economy.

She conveyed the greetings of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and noted that his administration is implementing one of the most ambitious economic reform agendas in Nigeria’s recent history.

According to Audu, sustainable economic growth can only be achieved when all tiers of government work together to create a seamless investment environment that rewards enterprise, promotes productivity, and expands opportunities for citizens.

“The future of Nigeria’s economy will not be determined in Abuja alone. It will be shaped in our states, cities, industrial clusters, farms, innovation hubs, and local government areas,” she said.

She stressed that investors ultimately make decisions based on the attractiveness of individual states, adding that policy consistency, infrastructure, regulatory efficiency, and ease of doing business remain critical factors in attracting investment.

The PEBEC Director-General further highlighted the importance of supporting both existing and emerging businesses, while underscoring innovation, research, and technology as essential drivers of competitiveness in a rapidly evolving global economy.

She explained that the nationwide subnational engagement tour is designed to strengthen partnerships between the Federal Government and state governments, promote business-friendly reforms, and unlock the vast investment potential across Nigeria.

Also speaking, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor of Abia State on Ease of Doing Business, Hon. Barr. Jennifer Agbonma Okorafor Ukaobasi, reaffirmed the state’s commitment to creating a business-friendly environment capable of attracting investors, stimulating economic growth, and increasing internally generated revenue.

Speaking on the sidelines of the workshop, Ukaobasi, said her office was established to eliminate bureaucratic bottlenecks and ensure that businesses operate in a conducive environment.

According to her, the Ease of Doing Business Office serves as a bridge between government institutions and the private sector, working to remove regulatory obstacles that hinder business growth while encouraging investments that can create jobs and expand the state’s tax base.

“The objective is to make Abia attractive to investors. When businesses come and thrive, they create jobs, increase economic activities, expand the tax net, and contribute significantly to economic growth,” she said.

She explained that the PEBEC engagement provides an opportunity for government officials and private sector stakeholders to assess the state’s progress in creating an enabling business environment. She noted that feedback from businesses and investors helps government identify areas requiring further reforms, including regulatory frameworks, taxation, and infrastructure.

Highlighting the state’s achievements, she disclosed that Abia has made significant progress in the national Ease of Doing Business rankings.

“Abia was previously ranked 32nd among the 36 states of the federation. Through deliberate reforms, we moved to 21st position, and by last year, we rose to 11th place. Governor Alex Otti has given us a clear mandate to attain the number one position, and we are working diligently towards achieving that goal,” she stated.

She further revealed that Abia recently qualified for the disbursement of a World Bank-supported loan after meeting key reform indicators, describing the achievement as evidence of the state’s commitment to business-enabling reforms.

The SSA explained that engagements with PEBEC, the State Action on Business Enabling Reforms (SABER), and the World Bank occur regularly throughout the year. These engagements include the development of Business Enabling Reform Action Plans, mid-year progress reviews, and stakeholder consultations aimed at strengthening the state’s reform agenda.

Beyond these formal engagements, she said her office conducts regular awareness campaigns, workshops for civil servants, and consultations with organised private sector groups to ensure alignment with the state’s ease of doing business objectives.

On accessibility, Ukaobasi, disclosed that her office is located on the third floor of the JAAC Building in Umuahia, occupying Rooms 304 to 306. She also noted that the state has established three One-Stop Shops to provide streamlined services for business registration, formalisation, and other investor-related processes.

She encouraged entrepreneurs, investors, and business owners seeking government support or information on formalising their businesses to take advantage of the services provided through her office and the One-Stop Shops across the state.

The workshop brought together government officials, development partners, members of the organised private sector, business leaders, and policy experts to deliberate on strategies for improving investment competitiveness and strengthening business-enabling reforms across the country.

Participants expressed optimism that the collaboration between PEBEC and state governments would further accelerate reforms aimed at making Nigeria a preferred destination for investment, enterprise, and sustainable economic development.

Amah Ijeoma
FIC Correspondent office of the Deputy Governor
04/06/2026

Abia State Governor, His Excellency, Dr. Alex Otti, OFR, has launched a ₦306 million tech-enabling business grant called NKATA to support businesses across all 17 LGAS of the State.

Speaking while receiving the management team of the Abia State Technology Skills Acquisition Centre, (ATSAC), and unveiling the project, Governor Alex Otti reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to empowering entrepreneurs and creating sustainable economic opportunities for the youths of the State.

Governor Otti reiterated that the initiative was deliberately designed to accommodate different categories of beneficiaries across the State to ensure inclusiveness and wider access to economic opportunities.

The State Chief Executive noted that a total sum of ₦306 million has been earmarked for the beneficiaries, and maintained that they must meet up with the requirements for benefiting from the project and expressed the hope that the intervention would yield positive results.

“I want to congratulate everyone. The ₦306 million is available, but beneficiaries must meet all the necessary conditions.

“In a few months’ time, I want to hear that this intervention has yielded results, not just in monetary terms, but in job creation, poverty reduction, and empowerment of our people,” Governor Otti stated

The Governor said that the programme aligns with his administration’s vision of building a productive, self-reliant and innovation-driven economy, saying that government has gone forth and back on the issue and is now convinced that it would help to support the youths.

He explained that his administration deliberately chose to invest in productive ventures capable of generating long-term economic value, instead of funding mere consumption.

“We have gone forth and back on this, and we are convinced that this is one of the ways to support and help our people,” Governor Otti stated.

“The easiest way to spend money is to give it to people who consume it, but we will receive value when it is invested, and that investment will yield returns. This is our own way of intervening,” Gov. Otti said.

Governor Otti further disclosed that the grant project forms part of broader economic empowerment initiatives of his administration targeted at equipping Abians with relevant skills and support to become self-reliant and employers of labour.

The Governor said that the goal is to support and train Abia people so that they can become self-reliant and employers on their own, and urged them to utilise the opportunity responsibly by expanding their businesses, creating jobs and contributing meaningfully to the economic growth and development of Abia State.

Presenting the project earlier, the Director-General, Abia State Technological Skills Acquisition Centre (ATSAC), Mr Peter Ukonu,
described the programme as a strategic intervention aimed at supporting businesses, reducing poverty and creating employment opportunities across the State.

He explains that the NKATA, which adopts a different structure by deploying support through technology providers, rather than giving cash, was deliberately designed to ensure that technology resources are utilised for business expansion and productivity rather than diverted to other personal expenditures.

“We are not giving cash to businesses directly. We are actually doing so through technology service providers,” Ukonu added.

He said that the programme brings together business technology service providers and mentors to drive digital tools, automation and AI, adding that the goal is to help Abia businesses move from survival to growth, improve productivity, create jobs and build a new generation of technology-enabling businesses.

Mr. Ukonu, who revealed that technology companies, software firms, hardware suppliers and internet providers would participate as service providers, while mentors, including those in the diaspora, would guide businesses in developing viable proposals and matching technological needs with solutions, explained that those eligible for the scheme are all Abia residents, who do business and pay taxes in Abia.

The Chief of Staff to Abia state Governor, Pastor Caleb Ajagba says Governor Alex Otti is intentional about transforming Abia from a production hub into a globally respected manufacturing brand.

Pastor Ajagba stated this shortly  during the flagging-off ceremony of the Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Competitiveness and Industrial Productivity Programme (MCIPP) Quality Assurance Assessors (QAA) Training Programme, held at the new main auditorium of Ogbonnaya Onu Polytechnic Aba.

While reiterating that Governor Otti’s initiative to rebrand and improve the quality of made in Aba products, Pastor Ajagba disclosed that the training of Quality Assurance Assessors represents a bold and deliberate step in the journey to reposition the State, especially Aba, as the hub of excellence in fashion, garment and leather production in the nation and across Africa.

He said that the state government remains committed to creating an enabling environment for enterprise growth through infrastructure development, policy support, access to finance and quality standardisation.

The Chief of Staff appreciated the partners and facilitators of the project, including Ethnocentrique Limited and MasterCard Foundation for their collaboration and technical expertise, and reminded the trainees that the success of the initiative depends largely on their commitment, discipline and integrity in applying what they would learn, while urging MSME operators to embrace the process.

In his speech, the MCIPP Team Lead, Adedapo Conde, while describing the Quality Assurance Assessors Program as a critical component of the MCIPP, designed to strengthen the skills ecosystem and support the transformation of Aba into a globally recognized skills delivery and export hub, explained that the event will also provide an opportunity for the MCIPP Team to engage directly with participants, offering deeper insights into the program and other strategic initiatives of the State Government aimed at supporting the growth and competitiveness of MSMEs.

Mr. Conde lauded Governor Otti for his visionary leadership and support, noting that Ethnocentrique Limited remains fully committed to partnering with the state government to realise its vision of positioning Aba as a globally recognised skills delivery and export hub.

The flag-off ceremony which attracted the presence of the Special Assistant to the Governor on Industry and SMEs, Mrs Chinwe Kalu Uba, Rector, Ogbonnaya Onu Polytechnic, Dr Christopher Okoro, among other notable individuals featured the presentation of CAC and SMEDAN certificates to business owners.