Abia signs MoU for modernization of Aba as commercial smart city

The Abia State Government on Wednesday, February 4, 2026, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Aba Commercial Smart City consortium and United Market Leaders/Traders for the development of the proposed Aba Commercial Smart City.

The project, a Public-Private Partnership (PPP)-driven initiative, will sit on a 140-hectare expanse of land located at Osisioma in Osisioma Local Government Area of the state. When completed, it is expected to deliver a mixed-use, commercially driven smart city designed to modernise trade, commerce, manufacturing and logistics in Aba.

The development is structured around four core pillars: automated manufacturing, medical and healthcare services, commerce and hospitality, smart housing, logistics efficiency and smart energy systems.

The investors said the project, on completion, would reposition Aba as an industrial centre for sustainable economic development and job creation.

Speaking during the signing ceremony at Government House, Umuahia, Governor Alex Otti, represented by his Chief of Staff, Pastor Caleb Ajagba, said the event signalled that Abia was ready for business and open to serious investors aligned with the vision of the administration.

He described the Aba Commercial Smart City as a transformative project that would significantly reposition Aba and Abia State.

“When we talk about the Aba Commercial Smart City, it is a project that will significantly transform Aba and indeed Abia. This aligns with our vision of making Aba a true commercial hub and industrial centre that drives sustainable economic development, growth and job creation,” Otti said.

The governor recalled that upon assuming office in May 2023, his administration declared a state of emergency in critical sectors, believing that restoring functionality in key areas would place the state on the right development path.

“Today, more than two years after, you can see that this visionary approach to governance has paid off. Aba recently celebrated over 90 days of uninterrupted power supply. What we are witnessing today is a reflection of that vision — once the right environment is created, investors will come. Investors are not emotional,” he added.

Addressing journalists after the ceremony, the Group Managing Director of Aba Commercial Smart City, Professor Chinedu Nebo, represented by the President of the consortium, Mr Osita Offor, described the project as the first of its kind in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Nebo said the project was a bold step towards positioning Abia as a global gateway to Africa’s commerce and industrial revolution.

“The Aba Commercial Smart City is a symbol of prosperity through enterprise, designed to restore Aba’s pride as Africa’s commercial heartbeat and connect it seamlessly to global trade corridors.

“With its integrated power systems, high-speed digital backbone and specialised districts, the city stands as a beacon of modernity and resilience, ushering in a new era of opportunity for our people. It promises jobs, skills development and urban renewal, while positioning Abia as a hub of excellence in manufacturing, healthcare, hospitality and technology,” he said.

In his remarks, the Group Vice Chairman of the consortium and former Inspector-General of Police, Mr Mike Okiro, said Governor Otti was restoring Aba’s lost status as Nigeria’s commercial and industrial hub through the project.

He noted that many investors were already committing funds to ensure the timely actualisation of the project for the benefit of Abians and Nigerians at large.

In a technical presentation, the Manager, Technical Services of Aba Commercial Smart City, Mr David Okoro, described the project as a resilient city where business would thrive on intelligence and connectivity.

He explained that the integration of an e-commerce platform with bonded terminals would ease the burden on importers by enabling seamless cross-border transactions, with goods delivered directly to their destinations.

Okoro said the economic impact of the project would be significant, projecting that it would boost the state’s internally generated revenue and create about 25,000 direct jobs and 100,000 indirect jobs across construction, ICT, manufacturing and retail.

“The Aba Commercial Smart City will provide a permanent relocation solution with technology-driven facilities designed for ease of business, healthy living and long lifespan,” he said.

Members of the Aba Commercial Smart City consortium were earlier taken on a tour of ongoing projects by the state government at the Government House in Umuahia.