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Abia State has secured a $145 million investment commitment for the establishment of a solar manufacturing plant in Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area, marking a significant step in the state’s drive to expand industrial development and renewable energy production.
The proposed investment was announced after Governor Alex Otti met with a team of investors led by Dr. Oko Jaja at the Government House in Umuahia. According to a statement issued by the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Ukoha Njoku Ukoha, the project has reached the Final Investment Decision (FID) stage, with investors committing up to $145 million for the facility.
Governor Otti described the development as a major milestone for Abia’s industrialisation agenda, expressing satisfaction that the project had advanced to the investment stage.
“I’m glad that at least you have reached the Final Investment Decision where you are investing up to $145 million,” the governor said.
He reaffirmed the state’s commitment to supporting the project, noting that the government had already provided the required land and was ready to address any additional needs to ensure smooth implementation.
“We had to do everything that was required to make the land available. If there is any other thing that you need for this investment, do not hesitate to let us know,” Otti added.
Speaking on behalf of the investors, Dr. Oko Jaja disclosed that the project, which is being developed in partnership with Chinese investors, has made significant progress. He said the first tranche of funding is expected to be released by September 2026, paving the way for construction to begin.
Chief Executive Officer of MD NWAKANMA Nigeria Limited, Dennis Madu Nwakamma, said construction of the solar manufacturing plant is scheduled to commence by the end of September under a public-private partnership with the Abia State Government.
According to him, the facility will manufacture solar panels and related renewable energy products while creating employment opportunities and providing technical training for young people in the state.
The investment strengthens Abia’s growing position in Nigeria’s renewable energy sector. The state already operates one of the country’s regulated electricity markets and hosts the Geometric Power integrated electricity system, which supplies power to Aba and neighbouring communities.
The planned factory also follows recent investments in the state’s power infrastructure. Governor Otti recently commissioned an upgraded 5MVA power station at Abia State University, increasing its capacity from 2.5MVA, while in February 2024 he inaugurated the 188MW Geometric Power Plant to improve electricity generation and supply.
The solar manufacturing project is the latest in a series of investments aimed at strengthening Abia’s industrial base. In March, the state commissioned a $35 million industrial facility in Aba as part of a broader $100 million manufacturing investment programme.
The state government has also completed the acquisition of Afro Beverages from the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) after paying N500 million to support the company’s revival.
In addition, the Federal Government and the African Development Bank have urged the state to resolve administrative delays affecting the commencement of the $263.8 million Abia State Integrated Infrastructural Development (ABSIID) project, which is expected to improve infrastructure and stimulate economic growth.
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Business
Yobe Approves ₦460.8m Empowerment Package for Women-Owned Small Businesses
The Yobe State Government has approved ₦460.83 million to support women-owned small businesses across the state through an empowerment programme targeting female entrepreneurs, including akara sellers.
The approval was part of resolutions reached at the State Executive Council meeting presided over by Governor Mai Mala Buni in Damaturu.
Briefing journalists after the meeting, the Commissioner for Home Affairs, Information and Culture, Abdullahi Bego, said the intervention will provide beneficiaries with essential business inputs to strengthen their livelihoods and improve the performance of their enterprises.
According to him, the government approved the procurement of 1,780 bags of beans, which will be distributed alongside cooking oil, smokeless stoves, cooking utensils and kitchenware already procured by the Ministry of Wealth Creation, Empowerment and Employment Generation.
Bego said the initiative forms part of the state government’s broader strategy to support women entrepreneurs and strengthen small-scale businesses across Yobe.
The council also approved ₦364.48 million for the procurement of 1,000 Yamaha GX 390 grinding machines to support residents under the state’s empowerment programme.
In addition, the Executive Council approved projects and services worth ₦73.32 billion, including ₦28.53 billion for agricultural tools and implements under the state’s 2026 agricultural empowerment programme, ₦23.97 billion for road projects, as well as funding for housing, markets and other infrastructure.
Business
FG Pushes Freer Movement Across Africa to Boost AfCFTA Trade
The Federal Government has intensified efforts to promote the free movement of people, goods and investments across Africa as part of measures to strengthen regional trade, attract investment and accelerate the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, disclosed this in Abuja on Friday during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), while reflecting on the outcomes of the recently concluded Biashara Afrika 2026 Forum in Togo.
According to Oduwole, trade cannot flourish where entrepreneurs and investors face restrictions on movement, stressing that easier mobility is critical to unlocking the opportunities presented by the AfCFTA.
She said the Federal Government is committed to removing barriers that hinder trade and business mobility across African markets, noting that Nigeria joined other African countries in reaffirming support for the free movement of people, services and investments.
While acknowledging that visa policies remain the responsibility of individual countries, the minister said there is growing momentum across the continent toward business-friendly travel arrangements.
She commended the Government of Togo for its commitment to removing visa requirements for African travellers, describing the move as consistent with the AfCFTA’s objective of deepening regional integration and expanding intra-African trade.
Oduwole also praised Rwanda’s liberal visa policy, saying it has enhanced business travel, tourism and regional investment.
She added that Nigeria continues to engage through the AfCFTA Secretariat, the African Union and bilateral channels to promote simplified visa procedures, including visa-on-arrival arrangements and the mutual recognition of business travel documentation.
According to her, several African countries have already introduced reforms that make it easier for Nigerian business travellers to access their markets.
The minister said Nigeria is also addressing trade barriers through the AfCFTA Digital Trade Protocol, improved customs cooperation, digital trade facilitation, enhanced transport connectivity and better logistics, all aimed at reducing the cost of doing business across borders.
Although Nigeria cannot determine the pace of reforms in other countries, she expressed confidence that progress would continue as AfCFTA implementation advances.
Oduwole said freer movement across the continent would create new opportunities for trade, investment, job creation and economic growth.
She noted that improved travel would enable businesses to access new markets, attract investment and expand exports, with small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), women-led businesses and non-oil exporters expected to benefit significantly.
Highlighting Nigeria’s ongoing trade facilitation efforts, the minister said the country has inaugurated the Nigeria-Uganda Air Cargo Corridor in partnership with Uganda Airlines to improve export access to East Africa.
According to her, the initiative has reduced cargo costs and improved export opportunities, particularly for SMEs and women-owned businesses.
She added that Nigeria is expanding similar partnerships with RwandAir to improve regional connectivity and lower logistics costs, demonstrating the government’s commitment to practical trade facilitation beyond policy discussions.
Oduwole identified non-tariff barriers, fragmented regulations, high logistics costs, cross-border payment challenges, restrictions on business mobility and regulatory uncertainty for digital businesses as some of the major obstacles to intra-African trade.
She disclosed that Nigeria has already gazetted its Provisional Schedule of Tariff Concessions (PSTCs) to accelerate AfCFTA implementation.
The minister also revealed that the government has established dedicated air cargo corridors, helping reduce freight costs by 50 to 75 per cent, while implementing the National Single Window to simplify domestic trade processes.
In addition, she said the government has mapped more than 200 digital service firms across 17 sectors to strengthen regional digital trade and improve market access for Nigerian businesses.
Oduwole reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to reducing trade costs, expanding market access and ensuring Nigerian businesses fully benefit from opportunities under the AfCFTA.
Business
China to Provide 5,000 AI Training Opportunities for Developing Countries
China has announced plans to provide 5,000 opportunities for artificial intelligence (AI) training and seminars for developing countries over the next five years, as President Xi Jinping called for a more inclusive global AI governance framework to prevent the technology from widening the gap between developed and developing nations.
Xi made the announcement on Friday at the opening ceremony of the 2026 World AI Conference and High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance in Shanghai, where he unveiled a broad international cooperation agenda focused on AI development, capacity building and governance.
As part of the initiative, China will establish international AI application cooperation centres with the African Union (AU), the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the League of Arab States, the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) and BRICS.
In another major initiative, China said it would enable 30 countries to access MAZU, an AI-powered meteorological early warning system designed to help communities prepare for extreme weather events and other climate-related disasters.
Xi said the initiatives are aimed at ensuring artificial intelligence becomes a tool for shared global development rather than a driver of inequality.
“AI development should not be a solo performance by a single country, but a symphony of international cooperation,” he said, stressing that no country should be left behind in the global AI revolution.
According to the Chinese president, the international community must adopt a people-centred approach to AI and establish a governance framework that ensures the technology is used responsibly and for the benefit of humanity.
He outlined four key priorities for global AI governance: promoting innovation through openness and international cooperation, strengthening safeguards to ensure AI remains safe and controllable, encouraging inclusiveness and respect for cultural diversity, and deepening multilateral cooperation to ensure equitable access to AI technologies.
Xi also called for stronger legal and regulatory frameworks, including monitoring systems, early warning mechanisms and emergency response measures to prevent the misuse of artificial intelligence.
He warned against turning AI into another arena for geopolitical rivalry, urging countries to avoid prioritising the security interests of individual nations over collective global security.
Highlighting the needs of developing economies, Xi said bridging the AI and digital divide is critical to preventing what he described as “new historical injustice” in access to emerging technologies.
He reaffirmed China’s support for international AI capacity-building initiatives under the United Nations and announced that the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization (WAICO) has been established in Shanghai to strengthen global collaboration and increase the participation of developing countries in shaping AI governance.
The announcement comes as countries across Africa, including Nigeria, accelerate investments in digital infrastructure and artificial intelligence to drive innovation in sectors such as education, healthcare, agriculture, security and public administration.
Xi said China remains committed to working with countries worldwide to ensure AI development stays under human control and is guided by international consensus.
The 2026 World AI Conference comes at a time when governments and technology companies are racing to establish global rules for artificial intelligence amid growing concerns over misinformation, cybersecurity, privacy, autonomous systems, job displacement and unequal access to advanced technologies.
Xi said the international community must ensure AI becomes “a mighty force that increases the well-being of humanity and advances human civilisation.”
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