Investment opportunities in Abia State

Abia State with the capital located at Umuahia, covers a total land mass of 7,677.20 square kilometres. According to the 1991 provisional census, the State has a population of 2,297,978 people. The state, predominantly inhabited by the Igbos is endowed with enormous agricultural and mineral resources.

Agriculture is the major occupation of the inhabitants. With three agricultural zones at Aba, Umuahia and Afikpo, the state produces in commercial quantities such cash crops as Palm produce, cocoa, rubber and rice. Its food crops include yam cassava, plantain, banana, maize and cocoyam. Inhabitants in various riverine communities also practise fishing. Some of the inhabitants are engaged in various vocational jobs, which include: Blacksmithing, tailoring, carpentry, cloth weaving/dyeing, sculpture painting, decorating and welding.

The state has abundant mineral resources, which are essential ingredients needed in the industrial sector, and considerable efforts are being made by the state government to enhance their optimum exploitation.

Industry and commerce

Abia State is inhabited by very enterprising people. Large industrial and commercial activities exist in the state especially the great commercial city of Aba. Such companies as Nigeria Breweries, Aba Textiles Mills, International Glass Industry adorn the industrial profile. There are also the Golden Guinea Breweries and Modern Ceramics Industries among medium and small scale industries operating in various locations in the state. The industries manufacture wares such as plastics, textiles and others. There are also food processing and machine tool fabrication projects.

In commerce Aba remains the major commercial city of the state. It is indeed the commercial nerve center of the state and Taiwan of the area. Handmade cloths are produced in commercial quantities in Ukwa East Local government Area.

Investors may consider investing in footwear industry, which thrives in the state. Footwear of various shapes, sizes and decorations are also produced in Aba. These are distributed throughout the states of Nigeria. Traders from all over Nigeria and the West African sub-region throng the market daily to procure large quantities of Aba-made goods for sale resale in their areas. Aba market is indeed second to the Onitsha main market in the neigbouring Anambra State in terms of both the number of traders operating in it and the turnover. The difference, however, is that most of the goods sold in Aba are made by the people.

Some of the minerals resources found in Abia include petroleum, natural Gas, Tar, sand/oil, shale, lignite, salt.

The government of the State led by Orji Kalu has made investment more attractive in the state with his economic blueprint. The blue print is intended to substantially improve the living standard of the people of Abia within the next four years by revamping the ailing economy and turning it to vibrant one driven by market forces and with private sector as the engine of growth.

For further information please contact: Chief Press Secretary, Government House, Umuahia, Abai State. Telephone: +088 - 221730