Abia State has secured $310 million in foreign direct investment across agriculture and manufacturing, alongside a $1 million donation of advanced medical equipment to strengthen its healthcare system, Governor Alex Otti has announced.
Speaking during a media briefing in Umuahia, the governor said the inflow reflects rising investor confidence in the state’s improving business climate. In the agricultural sector, PRESCO Plc is set to invest $200 million in large-scale palm plantations covering 400 hectares across four locations.
In manufacturing, a multinational firm has commenced operations on a $35 million beverage factory in Aba, with expansion plans including an additional $35 million in a second phase and $40 million in a third phase to develop a major production hub for nationwide distribution.
Otti noted that these investments are expected to create employment opportunities for young people and significantly boost internally generated revenue once agreed tax incentives lapse.
On healthcare, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints donated a $1 million MRI machine to the Abia State University Teaching Hospital. The equipment will support a modern diagnostic centre currently under development. The governor added that recruitment is ongoing for health professionals, with 567 positions already filled out of 771 advertised roles across 200 renovated primary health centres. He also highlighted the introduction of telemedicine services to digitize healthcare delivery.
In the education sector, Otti revealed that a newly commissioned 5-megawatt substation at Abia State University has ended over a decade of power outages. Plans are also underway for a 15-megawatt gas-powered plant to ensure stable electricity for the institution and surrounding communities.
The governor further disclosed that development will soon begin at the Abia Innovation and Industrial Park in Ukwa West, with projects including a modular refinery, fertiliser plant, and gas facilities.
On tourism, the state is partnering with the Federal Government to revive key attractions such as the Ojukwu Bunker and the National War Museum, aiming to position Abia as a major tourism destination and stimulate economic growth.
