UK, Abia To Deepen Partnership On Digital Transformation, Power, Trade

UMUAHIA — The British Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. Jonny Baxter, has expressed the United Kingdom’s readiness to strengthen its partnership with Abia State in digital transformation, power, trade, investment and other areas capable of accelerating economic development.

Baxter stated this on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, when he led a team from the British High Commission on a courtesy visit to Governor Alex Otti at his office in Umuahia, ahead of the State-level Digital Transformation Programme.

The visit is part of his two-day official engagement in Abia, focusing on power, trade and commerce, digital transformation, transportation, education and governance, as well as tours of major projects and stakeholder engagements.

“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,” Baxter said.

He noted that the partnership has expanded beyond diplomatic relations to include economic cooperation, trade, investment, technology and development, adding that the UK is particularly interested in supporting initiatives that enable different parts of Nigeria realise their economic potential.

According to him, two UK-supported programmes are currently active in Abia. These include 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, and the Digital Access Programme, DAP, focused on helping states create policy, regulatory and institutional environment for digital inclusion and expansion of the digital economy.

Baxter said DAP will support policy and regulatory development, capacity building and stakeholder engagement to ensure more residents participate in the digital economy, disclosing that the UK is also working with communities in Arochukwu and Okporoenyi to establish sustainable connectivity hubs.

The Deputy High Commissioner, who earlier visited Geometric Power Plant in Aba, described the experience as fascinating, noting that reliable and affordable electricity remains a major constraint to Nigeria’s economic development.

He commended the integrated power project, particularly use of reliable metering technology to build trust between providers and consumers.

“It is really clear that one of the key constraints in Nigeria’s economy at the moment is availability, reliability and affordability of power. To see this integrated project here working and providing solutions was really fascinating,” he stated

He said availability of reliable electricity, together with digital connectivity, could create conditions for businesses to invest and expand, and expressed interest in Abia’s efforts to retain skilled professionals and create opportunities for youths.

He also referred to the migration summit to be hosted by Abia, stressing need for incentives for people to remain while ensuring those who migrate are better informed.

Baxter assured that the UK would continue to explore government-to-government and business-to-business partnerships, including connecting Abia businesses with potential UK partners and supply chains.

Responding, Governor Otti thanked the envoy and said Abia is open to partnerships capable of strengthening economic development.

He described electricity as central to success of Aba’s manufacturing community, noting that cost of unreliable power is higher for businesses due to dependence on generators and diesel.

“Once you have reliable power, whatever the cost is, it is still going to be cheaper than not having reliable power,” Otti said.

He said Aba has strong manufacturing base in footwear, garments and other locally made goods, and that government is working with partners including UNDP to improve finishing, packaging and export opportunities.

The Governor said his administration is working to expand reliable electricity beyond Aba, including efforts to secure rights to operate as an integrated power market leveraging infrastructure at Geometric Power.

On waste management, Otti welcomed the partnership between Kaltani and UK partners, saying the state is interested in moving beyond collection to recycling and conversion of waste to useful products and energy.

He assured of state government’s participation in the Digital Access Programme engagement scheduled for Thursday, and disclosed that government has approved recruitment of close to 1,000 healthcare professionals, with about 200 vacancies still to be filled, alongside plans to establish a medical city in Abia in collaboration with a company working with UK partners to reverse medical tourism.

“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,” Otti stated.