Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to transforming Abia into a hub for sports, tourism, and economic growth by partnering with private investors to develop the highly anticipated Abia Stadium City. The bold project, expected to sit on 96 hectares of prime land in Umuahia, is aimed at repositioning the state as a leading destination for sports and entertainment in Nigeria.
Governor Otti made the assurance when he received a delegation from Irish Development Group (IDG), led by its Managing Director, Mr. Nigel Neely, at Government House, Umuahia. The IDG team presented a detailed master plan for the proposed Abia Stadium City, highlighting the project’s potential to revolutionize Abia’s infrastructure and economy.
Speaking during the meeting, Governor Otti emphasized that his administration had been working tirelessly on the stadium initiative and is actively seeking private-sector players with both the financial muscle and the technical expertise to bring the vision to life. He reiterated that government involvement would be minimal to ensure long-term sustainability beyond his administration.
“We’ve been on this stadium project for some time because we know the kind of transformation we want to achieve,” Otti said. “From your presentation, I can see you understand the scope and ambition. We are ready to move forward, but the devil, as they say, is in the details.”
The governor noted that the state government may retain a 10% to 20% equity stake while allowing the rest to be handled by capable investors. “We want something that will outlive this administration. If it’s largely private-sector driven, it will run better and last longer,” he added.
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Governor Otti also disclosed that his administration is finalizing the acquisition of the Umuahia ring-fenced power asset from the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company to guarantee uninterrupted electricity supply to Umuahia and the entire Abia North. According to him, the availability of reliable power would be a major advantage for the stadium city and the surrounding region.
As part of his remarks, Otti expressed satisfaction with the site chosen for the project, emphasizing its proximity to the newly approved airport and other vital infrastructure. He explained that the location was carefully selected to offer ease of access and accommodate future expansion.
Earlier in his presentation, Mr. Nigel Neely of IDG described the Abia Stadium City as a visionary and transformational project that will include a world-class stadium, a sports and high-performance training center, a games village, luxury hotels, smart housing districts, shopping zones, and tourism attractions. He praised the governor for his forward-thinking approach and expressed confidence in the potential of the project to attract global attention and investment.
“This is more than just a stadium,” Neely noted. “This is about building a smart, self-sustaining sports and tourism ecosystem that puts Abia on the map.”
Also present at the high-level meeting were key members of the Abia State Executive Council, including the Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Sir Nwaobilor Nwadinma Ananaba, and the Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Uwaoma Ukandu.
