The governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abia State, Dr. Kelechi Anosike, has promised to overhaul the state’s industrial landscape by establishing a solar-powered Common Facility Centre (CFC) in Aba and introducing interest-free, collateral-free credit facilities for local traders, leatherworkers, and garment manufacturers if elected governor in the February 2027 polls. ​
Dr. Anosike unveiled the industrial roadmap on Monday, October 26, 2026, at 11:00 AM during an interactive stakeholders’ forum hosted at the Ariaria International Market Community Hall in Aba. Addressing hundreds of footwear producers, textile operators, and leaders of various trade unions, the governorship hopeful outlined an economic framework anchored on what he described as “productive welfarism”, a policy designed to build human capacity through direct economic empowerment rather than government handouts. ​
Under the proposed intervention, the state government would establish a state-of-the-art Common Facility Centre equipped with heavy-duty industrial machinery, automated cutting tools, and standardized finishing equipment for shoe and garment production. Powered entirely by an off-grid solar installation, the hub aims to insulate local manufacturers from high generator fuel costs and frequent grid collapses, allowing cottage industries in the commercial city to scale production to export-grade standards. ​
To address the perpetual liquidity constraints facing small and medium-scale enterprises, Dr. Anosike announced plans to establish a dedicated state-backed revolving loan scheme. The facility will disburse interest-free micro-loans directly to certified artisans and young entrepreneurs without requiring commercial collateral. In addition, the PDP candidate pledged to abolish punitive levies currently imposed on informal businesses and align municipal taxation with broader trade expansion goals. ​
Decrying the nation’s heavy reliance on foreign imports, Dr. Anosike noted that Nigeria continues to spend tens of billions of dollars annually importing manufactured goods that local artisans have the raw capacity to produce. He emphasized that a government-backed solar hub and accessible capital would immediately lower production overheads, generate thousands of jobs, and boost the country’s foreign exchange reserves by driving domestic production. ​
Lending weight to the policy presentation, Chief Emeka Nwankwo, Director of Communications for the Kelechi Anosike Governorship Campaign Council, called on commercial clusters across Abia South to unite behind the PDP platform to secure structural economic reforms. ​
In his response, Mazi Okechukwu Ndukwe, President of the Aba Leather and Garment Producers Cooperative Union, commended the proposal, identifying power outages and exorbitant credit rates as the primary bottlenecks stagnating industrial growth in Aba. He assured the candidate of the business community’s readiness to engage constructively with initiatives that prioritize local production and sustainable enterprise growth.
