The Chief of Staff to Abia State Governor, Pastor Caleb Ajagba, has reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to partnering with the organized private sector to drive meaningful and sustainable development across all sectors of the economy.
Pastor Ajagba who disclosed this at Government House Umuahia, during an enlarged meeting with the state executive of Hotel Proprietors Association, noted that the Governor Alex Otti led administration places high value on collaboration, innovation and shared responsibility in advancing the state’s growth agenda.
The Chief of Staff to the Governor while emphasizing that the private sector remains a critical engine for progress, especially in areas like commerce, tourism and service delivery, explained that forging stronger alliances with private operators would not only enhance economic expansion but also create a more enabling environment for businesses to thrive and contribute significantly to the state’s revenue base.
On the ongoing reforms, infrastructural upgrades and policies designed to remove bottlenecks that hinder growth, Pastor Ajagba disclosed that the state government is already doing a lot to ensure the right atmosphere for businesses to thrive, adding that the efforts are part of a deliberate agenda to make the state more business-friendly and to attract both local and foreign investment.
He further urged the hotel proprietors to embrace digital technology in their services in order to improve professionalism, promote transparency, and ensure that visitors and customers receive full value for the money they spend, thereby boosting the overall business climate in the state.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Environment, Mr Philemon Ogbonna, his Arts, Culture and Creative Economy counterpart, Mr Matthew Ekwuribe represented by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mrs Chibuzo Ehiemere and the General Manager, Abia State Environmental Protection Agency ASEPA, Mazi Ogbonnaya Okereke, while identifying modern waste management and improved environmental standards as key to enhancing business operations, explained that the state government’s ongoing efforts to create a cleaner and more organized environment are part of its broader strategy to attract investment, promote public health and support sustainable economic growth across the state.
In their speeches earlier, the state Chairman, Board of Trustees, Hotel Proprietors Association, Eze Nzenwata Mbakwe, Eze Joseph Nwabeke, Chief Chidiebere Obasi, Prince Charles Ezeala, Ebere Ulelu among others, applauded the state government for its sustained efforts in promoting a cleaner and healthier environment, describing it as a critical step toward boosting tourism and improving service delivery across the hospitality sector.
They however, appealed to the state government to look into the challenges affecting the hospitality industry in the state in order to further strengthen their operations, enhance standards and contribute significantly to the state’s economic growth.
