By NewsCritic Reporters
Abia State traders association and business community have lauded the H.E Governor Alex Otti for successfully relaunching the state on the path of total economic recovery, and reclamation of its lost commercial glory within two years in office.
This is just as the Aba landed property owners expressed their gratitude to the administration of Gov Otti for adding immense value to their investment portfolio, after many years of economic downturn.
Speaking on the occasion to mark the Governor’s two years in the saddle, the President Abia State Amalgamated Traders Association, ASMATA, Chief Alphonsus Udeigbo on Wednesday May 28, 2025, noted that traders in the state and indeed the entire business community are appreciative of Governor Otti’s efforts at setting out an all encompassing blueprint for the complete emancipation of the state from years of neglect and ruins.
The immediate past chairman of the Eziukwu Road International Market, particularly thumbed up the administration’s infrastructural renewal agenda which he noted has significantly impacted commercial activities in Aba and most parts of the state.
”Without any iota of exaggeration traders and business owners, especially in Aba are eternally grateful for the massive reconstruction and rehabilitation of roads and other essential economic enablers in the last two years.
For one, it is not debatable that for some years we traders in Aba and other parts of the state could not access our business premises, due to the scandalously dilapidated nature of most of the roads.
Similarly, our customers from across the South East and South South states could not access most Abia markets which are the primary source of supplies to them.
This, unfortunately, led to the traditional customers from such places as Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Rivers and other states shifting focus to Onitsha and even Lagos markets.
The situation negatively impacted most business concerns and ultimately the economy of Abia state.
But we are happy that the situation has been arrested and businesses are back to life,” the ASMATA president noted.
According to the Chief Udeigbo who is also the President General of the Aba Landlords Protection and Development Association, ALPADA, the reconstruction of the all important Port Harcourt road Aba has successfully relaunched the commercial hub of Abia back to the exclusive club of Nigeria’s business and industrial power houses.
The traders and the entire business community of Aba, he insisted are overjoyed that the re-opening of the long neglected Port Harcourt road has revived many businesses that were forced to close down, including bank branches.
”Many business concerns folded up due to the poor state of that road in the last 15 years. I am aware that many people auctioned out their lands and businesses along the Port Harcourt road.
Of course, in doing so they lost a fortune because the state of the road significantly reduced the value of their investments and even those that bought them initially were losing money on a daily basis due to the sorry state of the road.
But, the situation has changed in the last few months with those I know that closed shop and left the city returning back,” Udeigbo stated.
According to the ASMATA President the traders, business community and indeed the overwhelming majority of Abians have therefore resolved to support the Governor in his quest to move the state to the next level.
”We are not just going to support the Governor, the traders and business community are going to take up the task of leading the charge for his re-election bid.
While expressing the heartfelt happiness of traders and Abia business community on the occasion of the administration’s second year in office, Chief Udeigbo appealed to Abians irrespective of political persuasion to queue behind the Governor and his team to salvage the state.
This is even as he urged the Governor to remain focused and refuse to be distracted by the antics of those opposed to the complete liberation of the state
