The Federal Government is exploring ways to support businesses in Abia State, particularly those operating in Aba’s textile and garment cluster, as well as the agricultural sector.

The Special Adviser to the President on Industry, Trade and Investment, John Uwajimogu, disclosed this on Wednesday during a visit to Abia Governor Alex Otti.

Uwajimogu said the delegation was in the state to deepen engagement with the Abia Government and identify areas of collaboration capable of attracting Federal Government projects and investment opportunities.

He said the Federal Government had recognised Aba’s strong industrial capacity, particularly in textiles and garments, and was considering measures to address major constraints affecting businesses in the sector.

According to him, infrastructure and access to finance were among the major challenges confronting businesses, and the Federal Government was exploring ways to help address them.

“We are also coming to discuss what we can bring to the table and help resolve and address those binding constraints,” Uwajimogu said.

He added that the Federal Government was interested in bringing more of its projects and programmes to Abia as part of efforts to promote economic development through collaboration between the two levels of government.

Also speaking, the Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of the National Agricultural Land Development Authority, Cornelius Adebayo, said NALDA was seeking the state government’s support for its Renewed Hope Mega Farm Estate programme.

Adebayo said the programme was designed to aggregate farmers, provide infrastructure, improve security, facilitate access to agricultural inputs and markets, and create sustainable sources of income.

He expressed hope that Abia would host a major NALDA agricultural project, including a processing facility, and appealed to the state government to provide suitable land and other support.

Responding, Otti expressed his administration’s readiness to collaborate with NALDA and other stakeholders to unlock the state’s agricultural potential.

The governor said Abia, despite its limited landmass, had fertile and arable areas suitable for cultivating crops including cassava, yam, cocoyam, oil palm and cashew.

He said the initiative was consistent with his administration’s focus on strengthening local production, noting that food imports placed additional pressure on the foreign exchange market.

Otti stressed the need for deliberate investment in agriculture to increase domestic production, create economic opportunities and reduce dependence on imported food.