Otti’s Industrial Revival Strategy: Reawakening Abia’s Factories, Restoring Jobs, Rebuilding Confidence

EBERE UZOUKWA, PhD

The acquisition of Star Paper Mill Limited in Aba and Owerrinta, alongside Afro Beverages Limited, from the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) represents far more than a routine transfer of assets. It is a clear and deliberate statement of intent by the Abia State Government under the leadership of Governor Alex Chioma Otti, OFR, that industrialization remains the most sustainable pathway to job creation, economic growth, and shared prosperity.

For decades, the silence of once-thriving factories such as Star Paper Mill symbolized the broader decline of Abia’s industrial base. Their revival signals a decisive break from that past. By stepping in to reclaim these strategic assets, the Otti administration has demonstrated that government can play a catalytic role in rebuilding the productive foundations of the economy when guided by vision, discipline, and competence.

Governor Otti’s handling of this process reflects his background as a first-class economist and seasoned banker. Unlike the ad-hoc interventions of the past, this acquisition is embedded within a broader economic logic of reviving productive assets, crowding in private capital, restoring investor confidence, and enabling industries to generate value, jobs, and revenue on a sustainable basis. His training and professional experience have shaped an approach that prioritizes transparency, financial prudence, and long-term returns over political optics.

Central to this strategy is a strong partnership with the private sector. The Governor has been unequivocal that government will not run factories as bureaucratic extensions of the civil service. Instead, private sector participation will drive effective management, operational efficiency, and market competitiveness in the revived companies. This model guarantees professionalism, minimizes waste, and ensures that these assets deliver measurable returns to the state while creating thousands of direct and indirect jobs for Abians.

The projected employment impact, estimated at over 3,500 direct and indirect jobs, underscores the social and economic significance of the initiative. Beyond wages, revived factories will stimulate local supply chains, support small and medium enterprises, improve community infrastructure, and restore dignity to labour. They also reinforce Abia’s historic identity as a manufacturing hub, particularly in Aba and its environs.

Equally important is the symbolic dimension of the acquisition. By honouring the legacy of the late Chief Nnanna Kalu, the founder of Star Paper Mill, Governor Otti has situated this intervention within Abia’s rich industrial heritage. This continuity between past enterprise and present reform reinforces the message that the state is reclaiming its productive soul rather than starting afresh.

The role of the Ministry of Industry and SMEs, under the leadership of Commissioner Mazi Michael Enyinnaya Akpara, further reflects the coherence of the administration’s approach. The emphasis on transparency, accountability, and structured revival plans reassures investors and stakeholders that this is not a one-off gesture but part of a sustained and carefully thought-out industrial policy framework.

There is no gainsaying that the acquisition of Star Paper Mill and Afro Beverages exemplifies Governor Alex Chioma Otti’s vision of development driven by productivity rather than consumption. Anchored in sound economic principles, strengthened by private sector partnerships, and focused squarely on job creation, the initiative lays a solid foundation for Abia’s economic resurgence. As factories return to life and workers return to production lines, Abia moves steadily toward reclaiming its place as one of Nigeria’s leading industrial states, with growth that is inclusive, sustainable, and future-focused.

– Dr. Ebere Uzoukwa is the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor of Abia State on Public Affairs.