Amah Alphonsus Amaonye, AWC, 4th February 2O26
Enugu, Nigeria — Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, OFR, has called for a decisive shift from short-term political thinking to long-term, regionally coordinated development anchored on reliable power supply, strong institutions, and private sector confidence, declaring that the future of the South East lies in collective destiny rather than individual state competition.
Governor Otti made this assertion while speaking at the South East Development Commission (SEDC) Vision 2050 Stakeholders Forum held in Enugu, where leaders from government, business, and development institutions converged to shape a long-term economic roadmap for the region.
Describing the forum as timely and strategic, Otti said the quality of engagement around the Vision 2050 conversation had improved significantly in recent weeks because stakeholders now understand that development is no longer about “the glory of individual states or communities, but the shared destiny that binds the South East together.”
According to him, the region is finally turning its attention to the vast untapped human and material potential within its borders, with a renewed determination to unlock opportunities that will create jobs, attract investment, and reverse the trend of economic migration.
The Abia governor stressed that energy remains the single most critical enabler of industrial growth, noting that no serious economic transformation can occur without predictable and affordable power supply. He warned against viewing energy as a short-term political tool, insisting it must be treated as a long-term economic asset.
Using Aba as a practical example, Otti highlighted the impact of the Geometric Power Plant, describing it as one of the most significant private sector investments in Nigeria’s power sector. He recalled that the project took over 13 years and hundreds of millions of dollars to complete and was commissioned by the Vice President in February 2025.
Today, he said, Aba has emerged as the first major industrial city in Nigeria largely insulated from the instability of the national grid, enjoying reliable and predictable electricity that has boosted manufacturing, restored investor confidence, and revived local enterprises.
Governor Otti explained that what investors seek is not pressure but policy consistency, effective governance, and functional institutions, adding that confidence grows when governments keep their word and create a predictable business environment.
He also noted that while corruption has affected Nigeria’s development journey, deeper structural issues such as weak institutions, poor decision-making frameworks, and the absence of technology-driven governance solutions have done even greater damage over time.
On regional integration, Otti said the South East must build systems that encourage capital to stay and grow within the region, stressing that the average citizen may not understand complex production tools but clearly feels the impact of reliable electricity, good roads, and job creation.
Commending the inclusiveness of the SEDC process, the governor said bringing all relevant stakeholders into the Vision 2050 conversation was the right approach to defining regional priorities in a rapidly changing global environment.
He concluded by reaffirming that institutional reform remains the foundation of sustainable development, noting that nations that succeed do so by strengthening institutions capable of responding to complex global and economic challenges.
The SEDC Vision 2050 Forum is expected to produce a strategic framework that will guide public and private investment decisions across the South East over the next 25 years, with energy, infrastructure, human capital development, and regional collaboration at its core.
