Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, OFR, has announced that his administration has commenced the process of reclaiming abandoned and underutilised farm settlements across the State as part of a renewed push to transform agriculture into a major engine of job creation, food security, and economic growth.
The Governor disclosed this on Tuesday while receiving a delegation of the Executive Management Committee of the Anambra–Imo River Basin Development Authority, led by its Chairman, Senator Emmanuel Anosike, during a working visit in Umuahia.
Governor Otti described agriculture as the backbone of Nigeria’s economy and the highest employer of labour, stating that Abia is deliberately transitioning from subsistence farming to commercial and mechanised agriculture supported by a full value chain.
“Some of these farm settlements were established by our forefathers and were later abandoned or underutilised. We have started the process of taking them back, setting them up, and getting them to work,” he said.
“Instead of selling cocoa beans, we want to sell chocolate. That is how value is created.”
He assured the visiting team of the State Government’s readiness to collaborate with the River Basin Authority to achieve food sufficiency and accelerate Abia’s economic development, urging both sides to focus on “low-hanging fruits” for immediate impact while developing long-term projects.
Governor Otti directed the Commissioners for Agriculture, Lands, and Power and Public Utilities, alongside other relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), to form a joint technical team with the Authority to drive the proposed partnership.
The Governor also underscored the importance of reliable power supply to agricultural and industrial development, noting that the State has made progress in the sector and remains committed to further improvements.
Earlier, Senator Anosike said the delegation was in Abia to formally present the newly inaugurated Board of the Anambra–Imo River Basin Development Authority and to explore areas of collaboration with the State Government.
He disclosed that the Authority oversees development across the five South-East states and owns vast tracts of land suitable for large-scale agriculture, adding that Abia once benefited from strong irrigation projects that supported branded produce such as “Anambra–Imo rice, chicken and eggs.”
Beyond agriculture, he said the Authority is also exploring renewable energy initiatives, including solar power, as part of broader development partnerships.
The meeting was attended by the Acting Secretary to the State Government, the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Commissioners for Agriculture, Power and Public Utilities, and Lands, the Director-General of the Public-Private Partnership and Investment Promotion Office, the Director-Generals of the Greater Aba Development Authority (GADA) and Greater Ohafia Development Authority (GODA), the General Manager of the Umuahia Capital Development Authority (UCDA), and other senior government officials.
