The Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST) has reaffirmed the importance of digital innovation, financial inclusion and efficient service delivery in strengthening national connectivity and expanding economic opportunities as it marked the 2026 World Post Day in Abia State.

World Post Day commemorates the establishment of the Universal Postal Union in 1874 and highlights the role of international postal cooperation in connecting people and facilitating the movement of mail and goods across borders.

The State Postal Manager, Mrs. Winifred N. Amadi, stated this during the 152nd celebration of World Post Day held at the NIPOST State Headquarters on October 9, 2026, under the theme, “One Postal Network, Infinite Possibilities.”

Amadi highlighted initiatives under the leadership of the Postmaster General and Chief Executive Officer, Ms. Tola Odeyemi, including digital postcodes, financial services, postal digitalisation and approved e-government services designed to improve postal operations nationwide.

She described World Post Day as an opportunity to recognise the enduring role of postal services in connecting people, businesses and nations, recalling the establishment of the Universal Postal Union in 1874 to strengthen international postal cooperation.

She also disclosed that NIPOST offers 21 products to customers, insisting that the service remained operational and effective despite perceptions that it had lost relevance in the digital age.

The SPM,however, commended the Abia State Governor Alex Otti’s led administration, through the Ministry of Sports and Youth Development under Sir Nwaobilor Ananaba, for providing free coaster buses to support the state contingent at the recently concluded NIPOST Sports Festival in Benin City, Edo State where they came back with a trophy.

She urged NIPOST to look beyond traditional mail delivery by embracing technology, improving customer experience and ensuring accessible, reliable and responsive services across communities. She also commended the commitment, sacrifice and resilience of staff in Abia State.

In a goodwill message, the Head of Centre, Federal Information Centre, Abia State, and Chairman of the Association of Heads of Federal Establishments (AHFE), Abia State, Lady Gloria Ify Abiakam, congratulated NIPOST management and staff, describing the theme as a reflection of the opportunities an integrated and modern postal network offers for national development.

Lady Abiakam noted that NIPOST could contribute more significantly to Nigeria’s digital economy by supporting small and medium-scale enterprises, facilitating e-commerce, strengthening logistics and extending financial and other essential services to underserved communities.

She called for sustained professionalism, accountability, strategic partnerships and technology-driven service delivery, stressing that an efficient postal network could promote economic growth, social inclusion and stronger connections among communities and institutions.

The messages underscored the need for digital transformation, accessible customer-focused services, staff commitment and stronger support for businesses as priorities for the future of postal services.
The celebration also reaffirmed the relevance of NIPOST in a changing economy and the need to maximise the possibilities offered by an interconnected postal network.

The 2026 World Post Day theme, “One Postal Network, Infinite Possibilities,” highlights the potential of postal services to connect communities, empower businesses and advance inclusive development.

The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has commended the administration of Governor Alex C. Otti for significant improvements in Abia State’s industrial and business environment, citing developments in infrastructure, electricity, transportation, urban renewal, healthcare, education and enterprise support.
The commendation was made when the leadership of MAN’s Abia/Imo and Rivers/Bayelsa Chapters paid a courtesy visit to Governor Otti at his office in Nvosi, Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area.

MAN’s Abia/Imo Chairman, Prince Obasi Ekeagbara, said manufacturers were already witnessing positive changes across several sectors of the State.
The recognition provides an important assessment of the administration’s economic direction, particularly its effort to shift Abia from an economy driven largely by trading and consumption towards one increasingly anchored on production, manufacturing, investment, employment and export competitiveness.

At the centre of the administration’s industrial agenda is the rebuilding of the infrastructure and policy environment required for businesses to operate, expand and compete.
According to MAN, improvements in roads, power, transportation, urban renewal and other critical sectors are beginning to address some of the longstanding constraints faced by manufacturers in Aba and other parts of the State.

Of particular significance is the administration’s drive to revive moribund industrial assets, including the Enyimba Garment Factory, Star Paper Mill and Afro Beverages.
MAN described the revival of such industries as a positive development capable of stimulating economic activity and creating employment, while also strengthening confidence among existing and prospective investors.

The administration has been pursuing improved power supply for industrial operators, including engagement around dedicated electricity through Geometric Power.

For Aba, whose entrepreneurial and manufacturing identity is deeply connected with small and medium-scale production, reliable electricity is critical to reducing operating costs, improving productivity and enabling businesses to compete more effectively.
The administration has also pursued improved access to finance through its partnership with the Bank of Industry. The Abia State Government has provided counterpart funding for a ₦10 billion BOI matching-fund initiative designed to support businesses across various sectors, with the first phase structured around government and BOI contributions.

Another aspect of the emerging business environment is the administration’s drive to harmonise taxation and eliminate multiple taxation. For manufacturers, greater clarity and predictability in revenue administration are essential to investment planning and long-term business decisions.

Governor Otti has equally warned businesses against making cash payments to unauthorised persons, stressing the need for a transparent revenue-collection system.
Beyond infrastructure, electricity and finance, the administration is seeking to strengthen the wider industrial ecosystem through platforms such as the Aba Trade Fair and the Export Growth Lab, supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), which is aimed at helping local producers improve product quality, packaging and competitiveness.

The administration’s position is that government should create the infrastructure, policy direction and enabling environment, while the private sector provides capital, innovation, production capacity and market discipline.

Governor Otti, while receiving the MAN delegation, challenged manufacturers to improve the quality, scale and competitiveness of locally produced goods and position them for wider domestic and international markets.

He urged businesses to take advantage of the opportunities being created by government while ensuring that their products meet acceptable standards.

The MAN delegation, however, also highlighted the broader challenges confronting manufacturers, including high energy costs, inflationary pressures, limited access to foreign exchange, financing difficulties, insecurity and demands from host communities.
The association consequently called for continued efforts to revive more moribund industries, establish industrial clusters across the three senatorial zones, strengthen action against unauthorised levies and provide additional support for distressed industries seeking to return to full production.

The recommendations align with the wider industrialisation agenda already unfolding in the State and underscore the need for sustained collaboration between government and the organised private sector.

For Abia, the significance of the MAN commendation extends beyond a single meeting. It points to an emerging effort to connect infrastructure, electricity, finance, skills, markets and public policy around the productive capacity of the State.

With Aba’s longstanding culture of entrepreneurship and manufacturing, the administration is seeking to transform that resilience into a more structured, infrastructure-backed and competitive industrial economy.
The ultimate objective is an Abia where businesses can move beyond survival to produce, employ, expand, compete and export, thereby contributing more substantially to the State’s economic development.

The Deputy Governor of Abia State, Engr. Ikechukwu Emetu, FNSE, has called on Nigerians to strengthen national unity, promote peaceful coexistence and harness the country’s rich diversity as a driving force for sustainable development.

Emetu made the call in his goodwill message to mark Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary, urging citizens to rekindle their patriotism and renew their commitment to building a stronger, more peaceful and prosperous nation.

Reflecting on Nigeria’s journey since independence on October 1, 1960, the Deputy Governor acknowledged the achievements recorded by the country over the years, as well as the challenges it has encountered, noting that the resilience and determination of Nigerians have remained central to the nation’s progress.

He urged Nigerians to honour the sacrifices of the nation’s founding fathers by embracing the responsibility of building a better country for present and future generations.

According to him, Nigeria’s diversity remains one of its greatest assets, stressing the need for citizens to promote mutual respect, inclusiveness, peace and unity irrespective of ethnic, religious or political differences.

Emetu also called for greater citizen participation in the development of communities and the nation, noting that sustainable progress requires the collective efforts of government, citizens and other stakeholders.

The Deputy Governor particularly felicitated with the people of Abia State, assuring them that the administration of Governor Alex Chioma Otti remains committed to implementing policies and programmes aimed at improving the welfare of citizens and creating opportunities for sustainable development.

He urged Abians to continue supporting initiatives geared towards transforming the State, while maintaining peace, law and order and strengthening unity for the collective good of the State and Nigeria.

Emetu wished Nigerians at home and abroad a joyful 66th Independence Anniversary, urging them to remain hopeful and committed to building a brighter future for generations to come.

Amah Ijeoma
Correspondent office of the Deputy Governor
01/10/2026