Business
Abia to encourage local manufactures, goes hard on fake products

Abia state government has restated its determination to support local manufacturers that are willing to follow due process in plying their trade, while noting that it will work with the National Agency for Food Drug Administration Control (NAFDAC) to rid markets, especially Aba, of fake products.
The government described the manufacturing of fake products in the state as an embarrassment, saying that Abians are industrious and are making a lot of things happen in Aba.
State governor Dr. Alex Otti, who made the remarks during his monthly media interaction for the year 2025 in Government House, Umuahia, tagged: “Governor Otti speaks to Abians”, encouraged local manufacturers involved in faking activities to desist and rather develop their own brands.
“We shall work with NAFDAC to ensure that genuine products are manufactured and sold in our markets. We shall come down hard on dealers on fake products. They are giving us bad name and that is not good for us. We do not support fake products,” he said.
” I do not have any problem with you making your own product, but I have a problem with you faking the product of somebody else and trying to pass it as the original version.
“I have directed my people in government to ensure that we continue from where NAFDAC stopped”.
Otti implored individuals interested in the business of manufacturing any product to go through the process of getting a NAFDAC Registration number.
He urged them to take ownership of their products and learn from countries like China and Japan that started by selling their locally manufactured products at cheap prices until they gained acceptance globally.
Nevertheless Governor Otti used the forum to say that he he is set to award contracts for retrofitting of 22 Secondary Healthcare Centres across the 17 LGAs of the state, just as he disclosed that over N16bn has been provided for the retrofitting of Secondary and Tertiary Healthcare Institutions across the State for optimal Healthcare service delivery.
He declared: “We are at the final stages of awarding contracts for the renovation and retrofitting of the 22 Secondary Healthcare Centres, General Hospitals.
“There are some that are in very terrible state of disrepair; Umunneato, Okeikpe, Obingwa , Okpualangwa, Arochukwu and a few others. I think about four of them , Okeikpe, Obingwa Ohafia and one other is already in for procurement.
” In the next one week, I am sure we will award this contract because we believe that Health is Wealth,” Gov. Otti assured.
Governor Otti hinted that contracts for the remaining facilities will be awarded soon.
The governor further explained that the N16.6billion earmarked in the 2025 budget is aimed at upgrading schools of midwifery, nursing and other healthcare training institutions across the state to address the shortage of trained medical professionals and ensure a Healthcare system that is both accessible and efficient for all residents.
“We will continue to commit resources to the Healthcare sector. We have about N16. 6 billion provided for in the current year budget to bring the institutions up to standard.
“We want to complete that this year so that we will be able to train our Nurses and Healthcare Professionals. It is a major area of need and a major challenge we must tackle,” Gov. Otti stated.
Governor Otti noted that his interest and commitment in providing quality, affordable and Healthcare services to the people necessitated the flag-off of the upgrade and retrofitting of 200 Primary Healthcare Centres across the 184 wards in the State. Five out of the primary Healthcare Centres located in Abia Central zone have been completed and awaiting commissioning.
“Barely two weeks ago, we flagged off ‘Project Ekwueme’, 200 Primary Healthcare Centres renovation, retrofitting and rebuilding as the case may be.
“Interestingly, even before we flagged-off, some of the Healthcare Centres had already started receiving attention.
“Five Primary Healthcare Centres are ready for commissioning. So, I’m glad we have five in Abia Central ready for commissioning,” Gov. Otti stated.
On security, Otti said , within the week, he donated five armored personnel carrier (APC) vehicles to the police to fight insecurity in Abia.
He disclosed that six of those vehicles, in dilapidated nature, were found abandoned somewhere by the immediate –past administration of the state.
On infrastructure, the governor re-iterated that Abia remains “a work in progress”.