The United Kingdom has expressed readiness to deepen its partnership with Abia State in digital transformation, power, trade, investment and other sectors capable of accelerating the state’s economic development.
The development was contained in a statement issued on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, by the Chief Press Secretary to the Abia State Governor, Njoku Ukoha, following a courtesy visit by the British Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. Jonny Baxter, to Governor Alex C. Otti, OFR, in Umuahia.
According to Ukoha, Baxter led a delegation from the British High Commission to the Governor ahead of the state-level Digital Transformation Programme scheduled to hold in Abia on Thursday.
The visit formed part of the British envoy’s two-day official engagement in the state, with discussions focusing on power, trade and commerce, digital transformation, transportation, education and governance.
Baxter said the United Kingdom values its partnership with Nigeria, describing it as one built on shared interests, values and experiences.
“The United Kingdom has a really strong partnership with Nigeria. It is a partnership based on so many shared interests and values and shared experiences in so much depth, and it is a partnership that, on the UK side, we value massively,” he said.
The Deputy High Commissioner, as reported in the statement signed by Ukoha, said the partnership had expanded beyond diplomatic relations to include economic cooperation, trade, investment, technology and development initiatives.
He disclosed that two UK-supported programmes were currently active in Abia, including the Financial Sector Deepening Africa (FSD Africa) programme, which is supporting efforts to mobilise private finance for an integrated waste management and recycling project in partnership with Kaltani.
Baxter also highlighted the Digital Access Programme (DAP), which he said was focused on helping states create the appropriate policy, regulatory and institutional environment for digital inclusion and expansion of the digital economy.
“The UK’s Digital Access Programme has previously supported digital inclusion, digital skills and policy development in Nigeria,” he added.
According to Ukoha’s statement, Baxter further disclosed that the UK was working with communities in Arochukwu and Okporoenyi to establish sustainable connectivity hubs where residents could access the internet and digital services.
The British envoy had earlier visited the Geometric Power Plant in Aba, where he described the experience as fascinating, stressing that reliable and affordable electricity remained one of Nigeria’s major economic constraints.
“It is really clear that one of the key constraints in Nigeria’s economy at the moment is the availability of power, the reliability of power and the affordability of power. To see this integrated project here, working and providing solutions to that, was really fascinating,” Baxter stated.
He also commended the integrated power project, particularly its use of reliable metering technology to build trust between electricity providers and consumers.
Baxter said reliable electricity, digital connectivity and other enabling infrastructure could create the conditions required for businesses to invest, expand and create opportunities.
He also expressed interest in Abia’s efforts to retain skilled professionals and create opportunities that would encourage young people to contribute to the development of their communities instead of being compelled to leave in search of opportunities.
On the migration summit to be hosted by the state, the UK envoy said discussions around creating incentives for people to remain and contribute to their communities were important, while also stressing the need to better inform Nigerians who migrate about the realities they could encounter abroad.
Baxter assured Otti that the UK would continue to explore opportunities for partnership with the Abia State Government, businesses and companies, including connecting Abia businesses with potential UK partners and supply chains.
Responding, Governor Otti thanked the British Deputy High Commissioner and his delegation for the visit, saying Abia remained open to partnerships capable of strengthening its economic development.
Otti particularly welcomed Baxter’s visit to the Geometric Power Plant, describing electricity as central to the success of Aba’s manufacturing and business community.
“Once you have reliable power, whatever the cost is, it is still going to be cheaper than not having reliable power,” Otti said.
The governor said his administration was working to expand reliable electricity supply across the state, arguing that the cost of unreliable power was ultimately higher for businesses because of their dependence on generators, diesel and maintenance.
Otti also highlighted Aba’s strong manufacturing base, particularly in footwear, garments and other locally produced goods, saying his administration was working with partners, including the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), to improve finishing, packaging and export opportunities for locally made products.
He said the state was also working to expand power supply beyond Aba and secure the necessary rights to enable Abia operate as an integrated power market, leveraging the infrastructure already available at Geometric Power.
On waste management, Otti welcomed the collaboration between Kaltani and UK partners, stressing that the state was interested in moving beyond waste collection to recycling and converting waste into useful products and energy.
“If you can generate energy, if you can also generate products by recycling the waste, why not? So, I’m glad that they are working with UK partners. But there is a whole lot more that can be done,” the governor stated.
According to Ukoha, Otti assured the British delegation that the state government would participate in the Digital Access Programme engagement scheduled for Thursday, adding that his administration would continue working with the UK team to identify practical areas of collaboration.
The governor also identified the migration of skilled professionals, particularly healthcare workers, as one of the challenges confronting Nigeria.
He disclosed that his administration had approved the recruitment of close to 1,000 healthcare professionals, with about 200 vacancies still to be filled, while plans were also underway to establish a medical city in Abia.
Otti said discussions had commenced with a company working with UK partners on the proposed medical project.
“The whole idea is to reverse medical tourism. So if we have comparable facilities and healthcare professionals, nobody needs to go to Dubai or India to access quality medical care,” he stated.
Ukoha said the meeting ended with both sides expressing optimism that the engagement would strengthen government-to-government and business-to-business partnerships in power, digital transformation, trade, investment and other areas of economic development.
The Chief of Staff to the Governor, Pastor Caleb Ajagba, Ph.D., and other top government officials attended the meeting.
