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FG Eyes Aba Garment Cluster, Abia Agric Sector For Support — Presidential Adviser
FG Eyes Aba Garment Cluster, Abia Agric Sector For Support — Presidential Adviser
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NALDA seeks land for Mega Farm Estate, processing facility; Otti assures collaboration
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UMUAHIA — Federal Government is exploring ways to support businesses in Abia State, particularly those in textile and garment cluster in Aba and agricultural sector.
Special Adviser to President on Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr. John Uwajimogu, disclosed this on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, during visit to Governor Alex Otti in his office in Umuahia.
Uwajimogu said the delegation was in State to deepen engagement with Abia Government and explore areas of collaboration that could attract federal projects and investment opportunities.
He said the Federal Government had taken note of strong industrial capacity of Aba, particularly in textiles and garments, and was considering how to support operators by addressing major constraints.
“One of the biggest things that we see coming out of Abia State is strong industrial capacity in Aba, particularly in textile and garments sector. And, we have been thinking of how, from the federal level, we can support businesses that are working in that sector and have come up with ideas on how we can address some of the biggest binding constraints that they often face, one being infrastructure and other one being finance. We are also coming to discuss what we can bring to table and help resolve and address those binding constraints,” Uwajimogu stated.
He added that the Federal Government is interested in bringing its projects and programmes to Abia, noting that the visit is part of efforts to identify areas where both tiers of government could work together to promote economic development.
Also speaking, Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA), Engr. Cornelius Adebayo, who was part of the delegation, disclosed that NALDA’s core mandate is poverty alleviation through agriculture.
He said the Authority is seeking the support of Abia Government, particularly provision of land for its Renewed Hope Mega Farm Estate programme, designed to aggregate farmers, provide infrastructure, improve security, facilitate access to inputs and markets, and create sustainable incomes.
Adebayo expressed the hope that Abia would host major NALDA agricultural project, including processing facility, and appealed to Otti to provide suitable land and support.
Responding, Governor Otti expressed readiness of administration to collaborate with NALDA and other stakeholders to unlock agricultural potential of State.
The Governor described the proposed farm settlement initiative as practical pathway to boosting food production, creating jobs and reducing dependence on food imports.
He noted that Abia, despite limited landmass, possesses fertile and arable land capable of supporting cultivation of crops such as cassava, yam, cocoyam, oil palm and cashew.
Otti recalled success of farm settlements established in 1950s and 1960s, as well as defunct Star Paper Mill, as examples of enterprises that demonstrated capacity of Nigerians to build sustainable productive ventures.
He said the initiative resonates with his administration’s vision, noting that food importation places additional pressure on foreign exchange market and stressing need to revive local production through deliberate investment in agriculture.
The Governor thereafter directed Commissioners for Agriculture and Lands to examine available locations, including existing farm settlements and other suitable areas, while also exploring ways to strengthen operations of NALDA office in Osisioma.