Economy

Apr
17
2025
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By Abia ThinkTank
Gov. Otti Vows To Transform ABIA Transport Sector, Says Transportation Is Vital To Economic Development

Gov. Otti Vows To Transform ABIA Transport Sector, Says Transportation Is Vital To Economic Development

Abia State, Economy, Good Governance, News Flash, Transportation
GOV. OTTI VOWS TOTRANSFORM ABIA TRANSPORT SECTOR, SAYS TRANSPORTATION IS VITAL TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti has re-emphasized the critical role of transportation in the economic development and growth of Nigeria. Governor Otti was speaking on Tuesday, 16th April, during a meeting with a delegation of the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC), led by the New Managing Director, Dr. Kayode Opeifa. He described transportation as a sector that is very important to economic development and growth. While expressimg concerns that progress had stalled on the Umuahia to Enugu section of the railway corridor as they were originally…
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Apr
16
2025
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By Abia ThinkTank
Abia’s Silent Crises: Battling Child Malnutrition With Data, Action, And Hope – By Dr. Chukwuemeka Ifegwu Eke

Abia’s Silent Crises: Battling Child Malnutrition With Data, Action, And Hope – By Dr. Chukwuemeka Ifegwu Eke

Abia State, Columns/Opinions/Letters, Economy, Good Governance, Health
Abia’s Silent Crisis: Battling Child Malnutrition with Data, Action, and Hope" Abia State faces a silent but devastating crisis: over half of rural children suffer from acute malnutrition, with stunting, wasting, and underweight rates soaring as high as 29.6% in some communities. These numbers are more than statistics—they represent a generation at risk. Rural areas bear the heaviest burden, where poverty, low maternal education, and food insecurity trap families in cycles of hunger. For example, 37.5% of caregivers in Umuahia South earn less than ₦40,000 monthly, leaving little room for nutrient-rich diets. Compounding this, only 44% of mothers know when…
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Apr
15
2025
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By Abia ThinkTank
Governor Alex Otti’s Guiding Principles For The New ABIA Plan: A Singaporean-Inspired Odyssey Of Transformation – By Dr. Chukwuemeka Ifegwu Eke

Governor Alex Otti’s Guiding Principles For The New ABIA Plan: A Singaporean-Inspired Odyssey Of Transformation – By Dr. Chukwuemeka Ifegwu Eke

Abia State, Columns/Opinions/Letters, Economy, Good Governance, Politics
Governor Alex Otti’s Guiding Principles for the New Abia Plan: A Singaporean-Inspired Odyssey of Transformation“To build a society where merit thrives, opportunity abounds, and progress is etched into the soul of governance.” Abia’s journey toward renewal is rooted in the unyielding pragmatism that propelled Singapore from resource-poor island to global powerhouse. As your Governor, I embrace this ethos with clarity: our state’s revival demands disciplined vision, not political theatrics. Our history—from the ingenuity of the Aro Confederacy to the resilience of post-civil war reconstruction—proves our capacity for greatness. Today, with a GDP of $22.83 billion and 4.14 million citizens, we…
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Apr
14
2025
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By Abia ThinkTank
Abia State’s Game -Changing ‘Made-In-Abia’ Policy: A Boost To Local Economy – By Ebere Uzoukwa, Ph.D (SSA To Governor Otti On Public Affairs)

Abia State’s Game -Changing ‘Made-In-Abia’ Policy: A Boost To Local Economy – By Ebere Uzoukwa, Ph.D (SSA To Governor Otti On Public Affairs)

Abia State, Business, Columns/Opinions/Letters, Economy, Good Governance, Politics
Abia State's Game-Changing 'Made-in-Abia' Policy: A Boost to Local Economy Ebere Uzoukwa, Ph.D The Abia State government's "Made-in-Abia" products policy is a bold initiative aimed at promoting local economic growth and development. By mandating the procurement of goods and services within the state, the government hopes to stimulate economic activity, create jobs, and improve infrastructure. This policy has the potential to be a game-changer for the local economy, and its impact will be felt across various sectors. One of the primary benefits of the "Made-in-Abia" policy is increased local spending. By procuring goods and services locally, the government will be…
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Apr
13
2025
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By Abia ThinkTank
World Bank Commits $16bn Portfolio To Nigeria

World Bank Commits $16bn Portfolio To Nigeria

CBN/Commercial Banking, Economy, FGN, News Flash
World Bank commits $16bn portfolio to Nigeria The World Bank said it has committed over $16 billion to Nigeria across 28 active projects. This financial commitment has been mostly through concessional financing from the International Development Association (IDA) and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD). In a statement on Saturday, the Bank said these investments are targeted at helping Nigeria tackle its most pressing development priorities. These include expanding access to essential services such as electricity, education, and healthcare, advancing gender inclusion and economic opportunities for women, and improving food security through enhanced agricultural productivity. As part of…
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Apr
12
2025
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By Abia ThinkTank
Fitch Upgrades Nigeria’s Credit Rating To Stable, Cites Confidence In Tinubu’s Reforms

Fitch Upgrades Nigeria’s Credit Rating To Stable, Cites Confidence In Tinubu’s Reforms

Economy, FGN, International, News Flash, Politics
Fitch Upgrades Nigeria’s Credit Rating To Stable, Cites Confidence In Tinubu’s Reforms Fitch, a global rating agency, has reviewed Nigeria’s long-term foreign-currency issuer default rating (IDR) from negative to stable. IDR is an entity’s relative vulnerability to default (including by way of a distressed debt exchange) on financial obligations. In a statement on Friday, the agency said Nigeria’s outlook was revised to B’, from ‘B-‘. “The upgrade reflects increased confidence in the government’s broad commitment to policy reforms implemented since its move to orthodox economic policies in June 2023, including exchange rate liberalisation, monetary policy tightening and steps to end…
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Apr
10
2025
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By Abia ThinkTank
As Former President Olusegun Obasanjo Commissions Governor Otti’s Landmark Road Project – By Ebere Uzoukwa Ph.D (SSA To Governor Otti On Public Affairs)

As Former President Olusegun Obasanjo Commissions Governor Otti’s Landmark Road Project – By Ebere Uzoukwa Ph.D (SSA To Governor Otti On Public Affairs)

Abia State, Columns/Opinions/Letters, Economy, Good Governance, Infrastructure, Works
As Former President Olusegun Obasanjo Commissions Governor Otti's Landmark Road Project Ebere Uzoukwa, Ph.D. The commissioning of the Umuahia-Uzuakoli-Akara-Alayi-Abiriba Road, a 45-kilometer stretch, by former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Friday, April 11, 2025, will significantly mark a milestone in Abia State's journey towards development. This landmark road project showcases the administration's commitment to delivering quality infrastructure, enhancing rural-urban connectivity, and stimulating economic growth. Governor Otti's administration has embarked on an ambitious infrastructure development agenda, focusing on rebuilding and modernizing Abia State's road network to promote inclusive development and improve the overall quality of life for Abians and residents. The Umuahia-Uzuakoli-Akara-Alayi-Abiriba…
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Apr
08
2025
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By Abia ThinkTank
U.S Slams Nigeria’s Import Ban On 25 Products Amid Rising Global Trade Tensions

U.S Slams Nigeria’s Import Ban On 25 Products Amid Rising Global Trade Tensions

Business, Economy, Foreign Affairs, News Flash, World News
U.S. Slams Nigeria’s Import Bans On 25 Products Amid Rising Global Trade Tensions The United States Trade Representative (USTR) has faulted Nigeria’s import ban on 25 items, saying the restrictions limit market access for American exporters. This comes almost a week after President Donald Trump announced sweeping tariffs on goods entering the US, with Nigeria getting 14 percent. In a post on X on Monday, the USTR highlighted what it described as “unfair trade practices faced by American exporters”. “Nigeria’s import ban on 25 different product categories impacts U.S. exporters, particularly in agriculture, pharmaceuticals, beverages, and consumer goods,” the agency…
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Apr
06
2025
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By Abia ThinkTank
Governor Otti’s Week: A Celestial Blueprint For Transformative Governance – By Dr. Chukwuemeka Ifegwu Eke

Governor Otti’s Week: A Celestial Blueprint For Transformative Governance – By Dr. Chukwuemeka Ifegwu Eke

Abia State, Columns/Opinions/Letters, Economy, Good Governance
Governor Otti’s Week: A Celestial Blueprint for Transformative Governance Governor Alex Otti’s recent endeavors unfolded like a meticulously choreographed cosmic ballet, each action resonating with the timeless laws of physics and astronomy. From judicial resolutions to economic revitalization, his leadership mirrored the universe’s innate balance between chaos and order, force and counterforce, entropy and renewal. Here’s how the week’s events aligned with the cosmos’s grand design: 1. Supreme Court Judgment: Newtonian Equilibrium in PoliticsThe Supreme Court’s dismissal of the Labour Party’s leadership epitomized Newton’s Third Law—every political action triggers an equal and opposite reaction. The expired tenure of the Abure-led…
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Apr
04
2025
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By Abia ThinkTank
Harnessing The Economic Potentials Of ABIA State’s Rivers: Chronicles Of Otti’s Data-Driven Vision – By Dr. Chukwuemeka Ifegwu Eke

Harnessing The Economic Potentials Of ABIA State’s Rivers: Chronicles Of Otti’s Data-Driven Vision – By Dr. Chukwuemeka Ifegwu Eke

Abia State, Columns/Opinions/Letters, Economy, Good Governance
Harnessing the Economic Potentials of Abia State’s Rivers: Chronicles of Otti's Data-Driven Vision Abia State’s rivers—Imo, Aba, and Azumini Blue River—are untapped engines of prosperity, with historical significance and modern-day potential waiting to be unlocked. These waterways, if strategically managed, could redefine the state’s economic trajectory, offering solutions to unemployment, food insecurity, and infrastructural deficits. Below is a detailed exploration of their economic value, grounded in plausible statistics, showcasing the actionable insights of Governor Alex Otti’s administration. Imo River: Agriculture and Energy BackboneThe Imo River, stretching approximately 240 kilometers, has historically sustained communities through fishing and farming. Recent hydrological studies…
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