By Okwudiri Okafor, Umuahia
Abia State Commissioner for Industry and SMEs, Mazi Michael Enyinnaya Akpara, has disclosed that the state Governor, Alex Otti, is poised to reactivate moribund industries located across the state so as to create job opportunities for youths.
Speaking to journalists in his office at the Ministry’s headquarters in Umuahia, the state capital, Akpara said the measure is accommodated in the 2025 state budget recently signed into law by Gov. Otti.
He said that the plan is to accelerate industrial growth, development and harness the potentials of small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs) in the South-Eastern Nigeria state.
The Commissioner recalled that the governor, through the ministry, had in 2024 supported 10,000 Nano businesses with a revolving loan of N100,000 each even as it also signed a Memorandum Of Understanding (MoU) with the Bank of Industry (BOI) for N10 billion marching fund to support Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the state.
The process of accessing the fund will commence soon, he revealed.
According to the commisso, the newly restructured Abia SME Bank will also play a pivotal role in assisting SMEs in accessing credit facilities in the bank.
He revealed that the State Government has started speaking with investors interested in establishing a ceramic industry at Ohiya, Umuahia South Local Government in the state, which is close to the source of raw materials.
Also in the works is a flour mill at Ovungwu in Isiala-Ngwa South Local Government with land already secured for the project.
The commissioner said in a bid to decongest the South-East commercial hub of Aba, the government, through the ministry, has ordered auto mechanics and spare parts dealers in the city to relocate to the Ovom Industrial Mechanic and Spare Parts Cluster.
The commissioner hinted that as an oversight function, the ministry has mapped out days to visit industries in the state to see to their progress in preparation for the imminent Industry and SME Summit.
