Otti inaugurates multi-million naira beverage plant as firm praises Abia’s business-friendly climate

By Kenechukwu Ofomah, Awka

The Governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Otti, has formally commissioned a privately owned multi-million dollar manufacturing plant newly built by the Ultimum Beverages Limited at Osisioma Industrial Layout in Aba.
Inaugurating the project at Egbelu-Owor, in Osisioma LGA, Aba, the commercial nerve center of the State, Otti described the project as a validation that Abia is back as an investment haven.

He said his administration has created a business-friendly ecosystem in the State, aimed at attracting investors and driving sustainable economic growth.
In his speech titled “The fruits of diligent labour”, Governor Otti commended the leaders and pathfinders at the Kadji Group, the investment team behind Ultimum Beverages, for believing in the Aba business ecosystem and the massive advantages it offers.

“The Kadji Group, the investment team behind Ultimum Beverages, has shown confidence in the Aba business ecosystem and its network of advantages, by committing over $35m to build a state-of-the-art production facility and pledging to increase this to $100m here in Egbeluowor, Osisioma Ngwa LGA.

Today’s event offers the ultimate validation to our position that indeed, the phoenix has risen from the ashes of its ruins; what was once thought irredeemable has been transformed into an enduring symbol of hope and pride for our people.

“The roll-out of products from this expansive facility is clear evidence that we are headed in the right direction. It lends credence to our long-held conviction that investors, be they foreign or local, can spot opportunities from thousands of miles away; they would quietly move to where there are assurances of good returns, long-term safety of investments and a general system of support for industry and innovation.

“The decision of Kadji Group to invest in Aba, quietly and without seeking attention, over a 2-year period, points to the validity of our orientation to attracting investments,” Otti stated.

He maintained that all that his government has done since May 2023 was simply to reset the business ecosystem and make the entire State attractive to genuine investors.

The State Chief Executive added that, “beyond the extensive investments in our stock of public infrastructure, we have also restored security to communities where criminals once laid siege; our streets are cleaner, and our human capital gain is on a meteoric rise.

“Our preferred development pathway may not have won much applause at the foundation stages, but serious-minded investors carefully took note,” he noted.

Governor Ott called for the collective ownership and protection of the facility and every investment made in Abia State, urging the people to resist vandals, obstructionists and other groups whose activities are inimical to the accelerated development of our State.

In his address, the Chairman of Ultimum Ltd. and representative of the Kadji Group, Mr. Whalen Kadji, on behalf of other partners, said the company was attracted to Aba by its strong entrepreneurial culture.

He attributed the investment decision to the favourable administration of Governor Otti in Abia State, which he demonstrated in the commitment to industrial development, including improvements in infrastructure; power, water supply, and road networks, which have boosted investor confidence.

The Kadji group thanked Governor Otti for quickly reconstructing the 1.2km road leading to the production facility as he promised them when they visited him last year to intimate him about the progress of work in the company and drew his attention to the bad condition of the road.

Earlier, the Managing Director of Ultimum Beverages limited, Mr Austin Ufomba said the company started as a bold idea to build a plant that can compete with any other company all over the world, and described the establishment of the factory in Osisioma as a dream come true!

He added that building the factory in Osisioma-Aba, Abia State, he has fulfilled the promise of bringing in an investment to Abia State which he made to Dr. Otti believing that he will emerge as the Governor of Abia State.

Mr. Ufomba thanked the Governor for creating the enabling environment for private sectors to thrive. He also added that the plant would create jobs in hundreds and thousands, ecosystem growth and inspiration to young people while assuring them of environmental sustainability.

The event was attended by family members of the Kadji Group from Cameroun, the representative of the Cameroun Ambassador to Nigeria and a long list of senior Government appointees.