Economy

Jul
08
2025
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By Abia ThinkTank
How We Are Using Funds Saved From Subsidy – President Tinubu

How We Are Using Funds Saved From Subsidy – President Tinubu

Economy, FGN, News Flash, Presidency
How We Are Using Funds Saved From Subsidy – Tinubu President Bola Ahmed Tinubu said on Monday that the government was channelling funds saved from the removal of fuel subsidy into the provision of critical infrastructure across the country. He said this at the opening of a National Conference on Public Accounts and Fiscal Governance, organised by the Public Accounts Committees (PACS) of the Senate and House of Representatives in Abuja. The event had as its theme “Fiscal Governance in Nigeria: Charting a New Course for Transparency and Sustainable Development.” Tinubu said the funds were also being channelled into social…
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Jul
08
2025
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By Abia ThinkTank
Aba Export Growth Lab: Governor Otti’s Masterstroke For Economic Empowerment And Global Trade Integration – By Ebere Uzoukwa, Ph.D (SSA To Governor Otti On Public Affairs)

Aba Export Growth Lab: Governor Otti’s Masterstroke For Economic Empowerment And Global Trade Integration – By Ebere Uzoukwa, Ph.D (SSA To Governor Otti On Public Affairs)

Abia State, Business, Columns/Opinions/Letters, Economy, Good Governance
Aba Export Growth Lab: Governor Otti’s Masterstroke for Economic Empowerment and Global Trade Integration By Ebere Uzoukwa, PhD The forthcoming commissioning of the Aba Export Growth Lab marks a significant turning point in the economic reawakening of Abia State. Spearheaded by the purpose-driven and reform-oriented Governor of Abia State, His Excellency Dr. Alex Chioma Otti, OFR, this initiative is far more than a development project—it is a bold, strategic intervention designed to reposition Aba as a formidable industrial and export-driven hub in Nigeria’s South East region. For decades, Aba—fondly called the "Japan of Africa"—has been celebrated for its industrious spirit,…
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Jul
07
2025
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By Abia ThinkTank
Restoring Financial Prudence: Governor Otti’s Quite Revolution In Abia’s Finances – By Ebere Uzoukwa Ph.D (SSA To Governor Otti On Public Affairs)

Restoring Financial Prudence: Governor Otti’s Quite Revolution In Abia’s Finances – By Ebere Uzoukwa Ph.D (SSA To Governor Otti On Public Affairs)

Abia State, Columns/Opinions/Letters, Economy, Good Governance
Restoring Financial Prudence: Governor Otti’s Quiet Revolution in Abia’s Finances By Ebere Uzoukwa, PhD When Dr. Alex Chioma Otti assumed office as Governor of Abia State in May 2023, he did not just inherit the paraphernalia of government—he inherited a state grappling with deep financial instability. With a domestic debt stock of ₦138 billion, a bloated and fraudulent payroll system, and a legacy of unchecked fiscal recklessness, the economic condition of Abia was dire. Many believed that only an emergency intervention—most likely involving heavy borrowing—could prevent the state from economic collapse. Contrary to expectations, Governor Otti did not resort to…
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Jul
02
2025
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By Abia ThinkTank
The Changing Nature Of Middle-Class Jobs In ABIA State: Umuahia’s Glimpse And Otti’s Statewide Ambition – By Dr. Chukwuemeka Ifegwu Eke

The Changing Nature Of Middle-Class Jobs In ABIA State: Umuahia’s Glimpse And Otti’s Statewide Ambition – By Dr. Chukwuemeka Ifegwu Eke

Abia State, Columns/Opinions/Letters, Economy, Good Governance
The Changing Nature of Middle-Class Jobs in Abia State: Umuahia’s Glimpse and Otti’s Statewide Ambition A stroll through Umuahia over two weeks reveals a quiet revolution in middle-class employment. Where traditional bank branches once stood, repurposed vocational centers now offer AI training, while tech hubs like Tetra Hub on Library Avenue buzz with young professionals developing apps for agriculture and logistics. This visible shift – from brick-and-mortar jobs to digital and entrepreneurial ventures – embodies the changing face of Abia’s middle class. Traditional sectors like banking and administration are contracting, replaced by ATMs and remote services, while education adapts through…
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Jul
01
2025
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By Abia ThinkTank
Dangote Refinery Slashes Petroleum Price Below N850

Dangote Refinery Slashes Petroleum Price Below N850

Business, Economy, FGN, News Flash, Oil & Gas
Dangote Refinery Slashes Petrol Price Below N850 The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has reduced the ex-depot price of Premium Motor Spirit, popularly known as petrol, from N880 to N840 per litre. Spokesman for the Dangote Group, Anthony Chiejina, confirmed the price adjustment to The PUNCH on Monday night, saying the new rate took effect on June 30. “PMS price has been reduced from N880 to N840 per litre effective 30th June,” Chiejina said. AttNews recalls that the Dangote refinery hiked the price of petrol to N880 as tension escalated during the 12-day crisis between Israel and Iran, raising the price of…
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Jun
26
2025
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By Abia ThinkTank
The ABA Papers: Anatomy Of A Once Forgotten Economic Powerhouse – By Dr. Chukwuemeka Ifegwu Eke

The ABA Papers: Anatomy Of A Once Forgotten Economic Powerhouse – By Dr. Chukwuemeka Ifegwu Eke

Abia State, Columns/Opinions/Letters, Economy, Good Governance
The Aba Papers: Anatomy of a Once Forgotten Economic Powerhouse "The Aba Papers" is a poignant and thought-provoking exploration of this city's struggles from a human perspective, weaving together the threads of history, policy, and human experience to create a rich tapestry of insight and understanding. Through this collection of essays, we delve into the complexities of Aba's challenges, seeking not only to diagnose the problems but also to prescribe solutions that can help this city rise from the ashes and reclaim its former glory. The Crumbling Foundations of CommerceAba, Nigeria's self-proclaimed "Japan of Africa," presents one of Africa's most…
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Jun
24
2025
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By Abia ThinkTank
EFCC Arrests Ex-NNPCL Top Official For Alleged $7.2bn Fraud

EFCC Arrests Ex-NNPCL Top Official For Alleged $7.2bn Fraud

Crime, Economy, News Flash, Oil & Gas
EFCC Arrests Ex-NNPCL Top Official For Alleged $7.2bn Fraud Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have arrested a former Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Umar Isa, over an alleged $7.2 billion fraud linked with the rehabilitation of the Kaduna, Warri and Port Harcourt refineries. Also in the custody of the EFCC is Jimoh Olasunkanmi, a former Managing Director of Warri Refinery. Isa, as CFO, was in charge of the release of funds for the turnaround maintenance of the three refineries. Isa and all the key officials involved in the maintenance…
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Jun
22
2025
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By Abia ThinkTank
A Symphony Of Renewal: The Unseen Spring In Abia’s Soul – By Chukwuemeka Ifegwu Eke

A Symphony Of Renewal: The Unseen Spring In Abia’s Soul – By Chukwuemeka Ifegwu Eke

Abia State, Columns/Opinions/Letters, Economy, Good Governance, Infrastructure
A Symphony of Renewal: The Unseen Spring in Abia's Soul The 24-Year Winter: A Landscape Frozen in Time**For nearly a quarter-century, an unnatural chill gripped Abia. Like snow in the tropics, hope seemed impossible. Institutions iced over. Roads became jagged glaciers. Pensioners shivered in a "welfare winter," abandoned as political youths feasted on phantom empowerment billions. The air thickened with broken promises—until even pastors tuned out, muttering, "Lies, all lies." The Radio Silence of ProgressGovernor Otti’s leadership speaks through a profound quiet. As Peter Obi observed in Umuahia, "You don’t need to tune to the radio to see his works."…
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Jun
21
2025
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By Abia ThinkTank
Celebrating Our Shared Reward: Being Governor Otti’s Address At A Post Projects Commissioning Rally Held At Practicing School Uzuakoli

Celebrating Our Shared Reward: Being Governor Otti’s Address At A Post Projects Commissioning Rally Held At Practicing School Uzuakoli

Abia State, Abia North, Economy, Good Governance, Infrastructure
CELEBRATING OUR SHARED REWARD Being the Text of an Address Presented by Governor Alex C. Otti, OFR, at a Post-Projects Commissioning Rally held at Practicing School Uzuakoli, Bende LGA on Friday, June 20, 2025 Protocols The greatest impact we have made as a government is not in the length of roads constructed or reconstructed in urban and rural communities, as impressive as our record on that front is; the excitement is also not entirely about the fact that moribund health institutions are now functioning, or just because workers and pensioners now know with certainty that their entitlements would be paid…
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Jun
20
2025
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By Abia ThinkTank
The Politics Of ABIA State: Demystifying 2027 – A Gramscian Analysis – By Dr. Chukwuemeka Ifegwu Eke

The Politics Of ABIA State: Demystifying 2027 – A Gramscian Analysis – By Dr. Chukwuemeka Ifegwu Eke

Abia State, Columns/Opinions/Letters, Economy, Good Governance, Politics
The Politics of Abia State: Demystifying 2027 - A Gramscian Analysis Historical Context: The Roots of Political PolarizationAbia State's current political polarization stems from the Peoples Democratic Party's (PDP) 24-year hegemony (1999-2023), characterized by infrastructural neglect, chronic unpaid salaries, and pension arrears, creating a profound legitimacy crisis in Marxist terms. The 2023 electoral revolution saw Alex Otti's victory on the Labour Party (LP) platform shatter this dominance, driven by Otti wave, mass frustration with perceived kleptocratic governance described as "free-for-all looting," and Otti's credibility as a banker with a strong anti-corruption message. Crucially, the "Abia Charter of Equity" zoning principle,…
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