Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has directed the newly appointed management team of the Abia Industrial and Innovation Park (AIIP) in Owaza to fast-track the ongoing development of the project, assuring that his administration will provide the necessary resources to bring the initiative to fruition.

Governor Otti issued the directive during a briefing with a government delegation led by his Chief of Staff, Pastor Caleb Ajagba, alongside the newly appointed Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of AIIP, Sandra Ivonye-Ntofon. The team had recently inspected the project site situated in the Ukwa West Local Government Area to evaluate existing infrastructure and outline next steps.

Emphasizing the economic importance of the facility, Governor Otti noted that the industrial park has continued to attract significant investor interest. He revealed that a major steel plant currently operating in another state is already in the process of relocating to the park despite substantial logistical and financial implications, underscoring growing confidence in the state’s business environment.

The governor urged the new management to recover lost time since the project’s groundbreaking ceremony, stressing that the priority is to make the industrial hub fully operational as quickly as possible. To support accessibility and security, Otti directed the Commissioner for Works to explore the construction of a dedicated access road linking the highway directly to the park, while also mandating the complete perimeter fencing of the facility.

Earlier, the Chief of Staff explained that the inspection tour was designed to assess on-site progress, identify necessary infrastructure upgrades, and engage with the host community. Local stakeholders, including the lawmaker representing Ukwa West State Constituency, Godwin Adiele, and community leaders, pledged their full cooperation to ensure the project successfully transforms the local economy and generates employment opportunities across the region.