By Chibuike Nwabuko
ABUJA (PRECISE POST) – Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has received the British Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. Jonny Baxter, with discussions focusing on strengthening collaboration between the United Kingdom and the state in key sectors of the economy.
Otti disclosed this in a statement posted on his official X handle on Wednesday, saying the meeting centred on digital transformation, power, trade, investment, education and governance.
According to the governor, Baxter reaffirmed the UK’s commitment to supporting initiatives capable of unlocking Abia’s economic potential.
He said the areas of support include the Financial Sector Deepening Africa (FSD Africa) programme on waste recycling and the Digital Access Programme (DAP), which is aimed at expanding digital inclusion.
Otti also disclosed that the British envoy visited the Geometric Power Plant in Aba, where he acknowledged the importance of reliable electricity supply to industrial development.
The governor said his administration considers power, digital connectivity and skilled manpower central to its transformation agenda.
He added that the state government was working to expand electricity supply, strengthen healthcare delivery and boost manufacturing and exports from Aba’s industrial base.
Otti further said his administration was engaging development partners to advance waste recycling, digital inclusion and medical infrastructure, with the aim of improving healthcare delivery and reducing medical tourism.
He described the emerging partnership with the United Kingdom as a welcome development, expressing optimism that stronger government-to-government and business-to-business relationships would accelerate Abia’s sustainable economic growth.
The governor said the state looked forward to deepening its engagement with British partners in ways that would unlock investment opportunities, create economic value and contribute to prosperity in Abia.
