Abia State is targeting about **N1.24 trillion in private capital** to finance major projects as Governor Alex Otti’s administration seeks to reduce reliance on public funds for infrastructure and economic expansion.
The investment pipeline comprises about **N914 billion in joint ventures** and another **N327 billion through design-build-operate-transfer (DBOT) concessions),** with market development, power and energy among the sectors being targeted.
Otti disclosed this in Lagos while speaking at the Nigerian-British Chamber of Commerce Meet the Governor Series.
The governor said some of the projects would be flagged off soon, describing private capital as critical to expanding the state’s development beyond what government revenue could support.
He said the administration was focused on creating conditions that would make investors comfortable committing funds to long-term projects.
According to Otti, investors are more concerned about predictable economic conditions, viable projects and functioning institutions than expensive investment-promotion campaigns.
He said Abia’s **N1.01 trillion 2026 budget** allocates 80 per cent to capital expenditure, while internally generated revenue is being used mainly to meet recurrent obligations.
Otti said private and external capital would instead be directed towards infrastructure and other projects capable of expanding the state’s productive capacity.
The governor identified good roads, security and responsive institutions as key factors in attracting investment, saying capital has an “extreme aversion to uncertainty.”
He said his administration had therefore embarked on the rehabilitation of roads in major business centres to improve connectivity and restore confidence among investors.
“We took on long-abandoned roads in our important business hubs and fixed them to announce our intention,” Otti said, adding that hundreds of kilometres of roads had been rehabilitated since he assumed office.
The governor, however, acknowledged that infrastructure alone would not guarantee investment, noting that investors also consider the wider economic environment before committing their funds.
During a fireside chat with Lagos Business School economics professor, Bongo Adi, Otti said Abia’s investment prospects were being strengthened by the resilience of its people and increasing use of technology.
He said sustained leadership and effective governance would determine whether the state could convert its current opportunities into long-term economic growth.
Otti projected that Abia could become globally competitive within the next decade.
Earlier, President and Chairman of the Nigerian-British Chamber of Commerce, Abimbola Olashore, said predictable policies, effective institutions, infrastructure and security remained essential to unlocking greater private investment in the state.
Olashore urged the government to strengthen partnerships with businesses and investors to create an environment where companies can expand and contribute more significantly to Abia’s economy.
Governor Alex Otti
