Business
Profile • Infastructure
"Our vision is that Abia
State should become an economically vibrant State
with numerous agro-industrial concerns; a State
committed to the welfare, health education and
happiness of its citizens; a State providing
opportunities for self-actualization through
investments in education, infrastructure and human
capital, and producing a workforce that can compete
with any in the world; a business-friendly
Government whose guiding principles shall be
transparency, accountability, integrity, equity and
honesty." Gov. ORJI UZOR KALU
(M.O.N)
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I.
Geography:
Abia State which occupies about 5834 square
kilometer, is bounded on the north and northeast by
the states of Anambra, Enugu, and Ebonyi. To the
west of Abia is Imo State, the east and southeast
are Cross River and Akwa Ibom States, and to the
south is Rivers State. The southern part of the
State lies within the riverine part of Nigeria. It
is low-lying with a heavy rainfall of about 2400
mm/year especially intense between the months of
April through October. The rest of the State is
moderately high plain. The most important rivers in
Abia State are the Imo and Aba rivers which flow
into the Atlantic Ocean through the Niger Delta.
II.
Administration:
There are seventeen local government areas (LGAs).
Each local government is headed by a
democratically-elected Chairman working with an
elected council. The State Government is led by a
democratically-elected executive Governor who is
working closely with an elected State House
Assembly. The capital city is Umuahia. The major
urban areas include Aba (a major commercial centre
in southeastern Nigeria), Umuahia, Arochukwu,
Abiriba, Nbawsi, Ohafia, Omoba, Ovim, Akwete,
Obehie, Mgboko, Isuochi, and Osisioma.
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•Infrastructure
1. Roads: International contractors
are needed for road construction to enhance
business and commerce. Abia is accessible. The
international cities of Port Harcourt in Rivers
State and Enugu are almost 90 minutes from Umuahia.
The present administration under the leadership
of the popularly elected Governor, Orji Uzor Kalu
seeks international businesses to modernize some of
the roads and highways in the urban centres in
order to ease travel, enhance commerce and urban
development.
ii. Electricity: Abia State like other states
in the Federation depends mainly on the Nigerian
Electric Power Authority (NEPA) for its electricity
supply. Abia State Government will gladly welcome
investment in the area of energy generation and
distribution.
iii. Water: Most of the urban centres of the
State have reliable water schemes which meet the
potable water needs of the citizens. In the rural
areas, government is investing in small scale,
sustainable provision of potable water projects.
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Investment
Areas
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Abia State seeks international investors within
the context of its considerable number of existing
major industries. Abia has room for sustained
industrial development. Currently, many of the
industries are located in the major commercial town
of Aba. In Aba, Unilever Group has its subsidiary
Company (Lever Brothers) which like International
Equitable of Colgate/Palmolive fame produces
detergents, toilet soaps, toothpaste, etc. The
Nigerian Breweries Ltd has a major brewery that
produces both soft drinks and alcoholic beverages
for the entire southern States of Nigeria.
International Glass and Textile Mills are also in
Aba. In Umuahia, Modern Ceramics Industry and the
Golden-Guinea Breweries (makers of Bergedorf Beer)
are major industries that employ labor. However,
the Ceramic Industry has modernized its operations.
In Agriculture, the Oil Palm Company (Abia Palm Oil
Company Ltd.), the Ogwe Modern Poultry Farms and
the Cashew Complex support our agro-allied efforts
in industrialization. The government of Abia
State, as a matter of deliberate policy, is poised
to offer investment incentives and also create new
centres for industrial activities which will be
environmentally friendly.
III. Water Resources Development:
The major rivers in Abia State include Imo, Igwu,
Azumini, and Aba. These subsequently flow into the
Atlantic Ocean and open up substantial avenues for
water resources and development. Potentials for
hydro-electric development, irrigation for riverine
travel abound. Currently, fishing is the main
occupation of the indigenes who live along these
river banks. Large scale fishing with enhanced
technology will create more jobs for the populace
and generate wealth for the government and the
people. The Azumini Blue River supplies the glass
sand raw material (90%) for the giant glass
industry in Aba.
IV. Agricultural Resources Development:
Abia State is mainly an agricultural state. The
state lies, mainly, in the rain forest belt and has
forest woods of economic value in all three
agro-ecological zones. Plantation agriculture is a
very viable venture especially in respect of the
development of the oil-palm industry. There
hundreds of other resources abound in Abia.
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For example, forests and woods in the State can
also be exploited for industrial uses such as pulp
for paper and cardboard production. Besides oil
palm, cashew, rubber, and cocoa are grown widely in
the state.  Derivative
industries in these and in ginger, coconut, citrus,
and raffia palm are all potentials for investment
in agriculture. Food crop production emphasizes the
arroid crops of cassava, yam, and cocoyam.
The unified agricultural extension system (UAES)
based on the World Bank supported T & V is
practiced nation wide. Livestock and Fisheries
complement the role of crop production.
Agriculture and inland fisheries development is
about to receive strong FAO support which will
benefit fish farmers and the industry in Abia.
Non-governmental organizations in Europe are
soon to collaborate with the Agriculture Ministry
in developing small farmers capacity for fish
production. Agriculture is one viable area for
international investment with local
participation.
V. Mineral Resources Development:
In Southern parts of Abia, oil and gas predominate.
The petroleum resources of Nigeria, in general,
and Abia State, in particular, are exploited by the
multinationals like Shell, Agip, etc. Abia State
and international investors should benefit from
very constructive and vigorous industrialization
thrust with active collaboration with local and
foreign investors in the mineral sector.
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Contacts
for further inquiries:
•Orji Uzor Kalu, Executive Governor,
Government House, Umuahia, Abia State •
088-221-995
•Onyekwere Ogba, Commissioner for Finance
& Economic Development 088-221-169
•Dr. Emelike Okoro,
Agricultural Development Program 088-222-295
•Attorney Nnaemeka Odunze
713-334-8080 (Houston, Texas, U.S.A)
Special Brochure
prints of this ABIA INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS PROFILE
will be mailed to actively interested investors and
business persons. A Special Production by
USAfrica
International, Houston.
713-270-5500
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