FG Explores Support for Aba Textile Sector, Otti Backs NALDA Farm Estate

The Federal Government is exploring measures to support businesses in Abia State, particularly the textile and garment cluster in Aba, with a focus on tackling infrastructure and financing constraints hampering the sector’s growth.

The Special Adviser to the President on Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr. John Uwajimogu, disclosed this on Wednesday, when he led a delegation to the Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, OFR, at the Governor’s office in Umuahia.

Uwajimogu said the delegation was in the state to deepen engagement with the Abia State Government and identify areas of collaboration capable of attracting federal projects, investments and economic opportunities to the state.

He said the Federal Government had recognised Aba’s strong industrial base, particularly its textile and garment sector, and was considering interventions to address some of the major constraints confronting businesses in the cluster.

“One of the biggest things that we see coming out of Abia State is the strong industrial capacity in Aba, particularly in the textile and garments sector.
“And, we have been thinking of how, from the federal level, we can support the 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 the other one being finance.
“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, describing the visit as part of efforts to identify areas where the Federal and state governments could collaborate to accelerate economic development.

Also speaking, the Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of the National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA), Engr. Cornelius Adebayo, who was part of the delegation, described Governor Otti as a performer and reformer.

Adebayo said NALDA’s core mandate was poverty alleviation through agriculture, adding that the Authority was seeking the support of the Abia State Government, particularly in the provision of land for its Renewed Hope Mega Farm Estate programme.

According to him, the programme is designed to aggregate farmers, provide necessary infrastructure, improve security, facilitate access to agricultural inputs and markets, and create sustainable sources of income for participating farmers.

He expressed optimism that Abia State could host a major NALDA agricultural project, including a processing facility, and appealed to Governor Otti to provide suitable land and the necessary support to enable the initiative to take off.

Responding, Governor Otti declared the readiness of his administration to collaborate with NALDA and other stakeholders to unlock the agricultural potential of Abia State.

The Governor described the proposed farm settlement initiative as a practical avenue for increasing food production, creating employment opportunities and reducing the state’s dependence on food imports.

Otti noted that although Abia has limited landmass, the state possesses fertile and arable land capable of supporting the cultivation of crops including cassava, yam, cocoyam, oil palm and cashew.

He recalled the success of farm settlements established in the 1950s and 1960s, as well as the defunct Star Paper Mill, as examples of productive ventures that demonstrated the capacity to build sustainable enterprises.

The Governor said the proposed NALDA initiative aligned with his administration’s vision for agricultural development, stressing that increased food importation places additional pressure on the foreign exchange market.

He therefore emphasised the need to revive local production through deliberate investment in agriculture, infrastructure and value-chain development.

Governor Otti subsequently directed the Commissioners for Agriculture and Lands to identify available locations, including existing farm settlements and other suitable sites, for the proposed NALDA project.

He also directed the relevant authorities to explore measures to strengthen the operations of NALDA’s office in Osisioma.