Abia signs MoU to develop Aba commercial smart city

The Abia State Government on Wednesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Aba Commercial Smart City consortium and representatives of market leaders and traders for the development of the proposed Aba Commercial Smart City.

The project, which is driven by a public-private partnership initiative, will sit on a 140-hectare parcel of land located in Osisioma Local Government Area, a strategic axis of Aba. When completed, it is expected to deliver a mixed-use, commercially driven smart city aimed at modernising trade, commerce, manufacturing and logistics in the region.

The smart city is designed around key pillars, including automated manufacturing, medical and healthcare services, commerce, hospitality and smart housing, logistics efficiency and smart energy systems.

Speaking at the signing ceremony at the Government House in Umuahia, Governor Alex Otti, represented by his Chief of Staff, Pastor Caleb Ajagba, said the development signalled that Abia was open for business and ready to welcome investors willing to partner with the state in line with his administration’s vision.

He described the Aba Commercial Smart City as a transformative project that would significantly impact Aba and the entire state, aligning with the administration’s goal of restoring Aba’s status as a commercial and industrial hub.

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

Otti recalled that upon assuming office in May 2023, his administration declared a state of emergency in critical sectors, noting that improvements in those areas had begun to yield positive results.

“Aba recently recorded over 90 days of uninterrupted power supply. What we are witnessing today is a reflection of our belief that once the right environment is created, investors will come. Investors are not emotional; they respond to enabling conditions,” he added.

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

He said the project was a bold step towards positioning Abia as a 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 integrated power systems, a high-speed digital backbone and specialised districts, the city will usher in a new era of opportunity, creating jobs, building skills and promoting urban renewal,” he said.

In his remarks, the Group Vice Chairman and former Inspector-General of Police, Mr Mike Okiro, said the project would help restore Aba’s lost glory as a major commercial and industrial centre in Nigeria, noting that several investors had already committed resources towards its realisation.

Also speaking, the Manager, Technical Services, Aba Commercial Smart City, Mr David Okoro, explained that the project would leverage technology and connectivity to create a resilient environment for businesses to thrive.

He noted that an integrated e-commerce platform with bonded terminals would ease the burden on importers by enabling cross-border transactions and doorstep delivery of goods.

According to him, the project is expected to boost the state’s internally generated revenue and create about 25,000 direct and 100,000 indirect jobs across construction, ICT, manufacturing and retail sectors.

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

Members of the Aba Commercial Smart City team were also taken on a tour of ongoing projects by the state government prior to the signing ceremony.