Abia economy to benefit, as British Deputy High Commissioner visits State

The Abia State economy is expected to enjoy further boost as the  State government hosts the  British Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr Johnny Baxter, on September 16 and 17 on an official  State visit.During the visit,

Mr Baxter’s engagement will focus on the priority sectors of Power,Trade and Commerce, Transportation, Education, Digital Transformation and governance. He will also participate in the flag-off of the SPRIRET Initiative – a state- level Policy,Regulatory and Institutional Reform Enabling Digital Transformation.

The Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, disclosed this on Monday, September 14, 2026, while briefing news men on the outcome of this week’s State Executive Council meeting presided over by Governor Alex Otti.

He said the SPRIRET Initiative is a UK FCDO-funded programme aimed at promoting digital inclusion at no cost to the state.

He added that the initiative builds on the Digital Access Programme, which trained over 1,500 Abia civil servants in 2024.

The Information Commissioner said the Deputy British High Commissioner would pay a courtesy visit to Governor Alex Otti and tour the Geometric Power Plant, Ariaria International Market in Aba, the Nnenna Oti Bus Terminal in Umuahia, as well as the Solar Project and Ubakala Smart School Project.

He said Mr Baxter would also engage with stakeholders in the areas of security, politics, civil society and the media.

Prince Kanu added that the Deputy High Commissioner had met Governor Otti at the recent Nigeria-British Chamber of Commerce Mini-Governor Series in Lagos, where he commended the Governor’s sterling performance.

“He opined that the Governor’s excellent performance in office, through his good works are speaking eloquently for him, not just in Nigeria, but around the globe,” Prince Kanu stated.

He noted that Mr. Baxter’s visit would be the second by a top-ranking British Government official to Abia since August 2024, when the then British High Commissioner, Mr. Richard Montgomery, visited Governor Otti

On road infrastructure, Prince Kanu disclosed that the Ministry of Works currently had 44 direct-labour road projects across the State, stating that none of the 44 projects was completed during the period under review. However , three new projects were added to the Direct Labour maintenance basket of the Ministry of Works.

The new projects are the construction of the 6.2-kilometre Amiyi-Obiloha Road in Isuikwuato Local Government Area; Okpurorie-Afaraukwu Road in Umuahia North Local Government Area; and the 1.2-kilometre Hon. P.C. Mba Road in Living Springs Estate, New Government Layout, Umuahia.

The Commissioner further disclosed that one of the 26 ongoing contract road projects had recently been completed.
The completed project is the 1.5-kilometre Jaja Wachuku Road in Isiala Ngwa North Local Government Area.

He said the remaining contract roads were at various stages of completion and that more projects would be completed as soon as weather conditions improved.