Governor Alex Otti of Abia State has disclosed that his administration is in the process of acquiring the defunct Star Paper Mill in Aba, as part of broader efforts to revive industrial activities in the state. Speaking during a civic reception organized in his honour by the Abiriba Communal Improvement Union (ACIU) at Enyimba International Stadium, Aba, the governor revealed that a formal buyback offer has already been made to the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), which took over the mill after it ceased operations.
Otti, who was born and raised in Aba, expressed deep nostalgia over the decline of the once-thriving paper mill, describing it as a national industrial asset. “I knew how important Star Paper Mill was — not just to Aba, not just to Abia State, not just to the East of the Niger, but to Nigeria,” he said. “One thing you can take to the bank is that under our watch, Star Paper Mill will be back.”
Star Paper Mill, once a prominent producer of exercise books, tissue paper, and other paper products, was established by renowned Abiriba-born industrialist, Nnanna Kalu. The company thrived for years before shutting down due to economic challenges, and was eventually taken over by AMCON after falling into financial distress.
Governor Otti also used the occasion to address another longstanding infrastructure issue in the state. He pledged to restore electricity to Ohafia Local Government Area, which has suffered over five years of blackout following the vandalism of power facilities. He assured that his administration is committed to ensuring that light returns to the affected communities.
“The darkness that has loomed over Ohafia will soon be a thing of the past,” he said. “We are determined to bring light back to the people.”
