FG plans support for Aba textile cluster, agriculture

The Federal Government is actively exploring methods to bolster businesses in Abia State, with a particular focus on the textile and garment industry in Aba and agriculture. During a recent meeting with Abia State Governor Alex Otti, the Special Adviser to the President on Industry, Trade and Investment, John Uwajimogu, highlighted the government's intent to collaborate with the state in order to attract Federal projects and investment opportunities.

Uwajimogu mentioned that Aba's industrial sector, specifically in textiles and garments, is robust and that the federal government is examining ways to support local businesses by addressing key challenges they face, such as inadequate infrastructure and financial constraints.

Cornelius Adebayo, the Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of the National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA), also attended the meeting. He praised Governor Otti for his performance and reformative efforts, emphasizing that NALDA's primary objective is poverty alleviation through agriculture. Adebayo expressed optimism that Abia State could host a major NALDA project, including a processing facility, and urged the governor to provide suitable land and support for the initiative.

Adebayo highlighted that Abia State, despite its relatively small land area, has fertile soil suitable for cultivating crops such as cassava, yam, cocoyam, oil palm, and cashew.

Governor Otti pledged his administration's readiness to collaborate with the Federal Government and other stakeholders to unlock Abia State's agricultural potential. He pointed out that despite the state's modest landmass, it has fertile and arable land capable of supporting the production of essential crops like cassava, yam, cocoyam, oil palm, and cashew.

Otti stressed that the reliance on food imports places further strain on the foreign exchange market and underscored the urgency of reviving local production through targeted investment in agriculture.