Abia State Governor Alex Otti has opened a $35 million beverage manufacturing facility in Aba. This development is a key step in the state’s ongoing industrial revival and investment efforts.
Ultimum Beverages Limited built the facility and Kadji Group supports it. Its location is the Osisioma Industrial Layout in Aba, which is the commercial center of Abia State. The opening ceremony was held on March 25, 2026.
The project stands out as one of the most significant private-sector investments in the state in recent years.
What Was Commissioned?
The new plant is a modern beverage production facility that will serve as the main manufacturing site for Ultimum’s products in Nigeria. The company produces the Razzl brand of carbonated soft drinks. They include flavors like cola, orange, lemon, and pamplemousse, aimed at a growing consumer base.
This investment is part of a larger long-term plan expected to reach $100 million, showing confidence in Aba’s industrial potential.
Why It Matters
The opening marks a renewed investor confidence in Aba’s manufacturing landscape. The city has a rich entrepreneurial history but has faced challenges in recent decades due to poor infrastructure.
According to reports, during the event, Governor Otti described the project as proof of Abia’s economic recovery and reform efforts:
“By committing over $35 million to build a state-of-the-art production facility… today’s event offers the ultimate validation… that indeed the phoenix has risen from the ashes.”
He also pointed out that the improving business climate, due to infrastructure upgrades, better security, and policy changes, has made Aba more appealing to investors.
Investor Confidence and Private Sector Momentum
Whalen Kadji, the Chairman of Ultimum Beverages and a representative of the Kadji Group, credited the investment decision to the state government’s supportive environment. He highlights the administration’s active role in fostering industrial growth.
“A government that doesn’t just talk about development but actually creates the conditions for it to happen.”
The company also noted that Aba’s strong entrepreneurial spirit and improving infrastructure, including better road access, power availability, and logistics, influenced their decision to invest.
Economic Impact: Jobs, Supply Chains, and Growth
The beverage plant will create jobs in production, administration, and distribution. It will also stimulate activity across the broader value chain, including suppliers, logistics providers, and retailers.
Austin Ufomba, Managing Director of Ultimum Beverages, emphasized the investment’s real value:
“The real value of the investment is in the lives it would affect and opportunities it would unlock.”
Bigger Picture: Aba’s Industrial Reawakening
This project fits into the Abia State government’s wider plan to revive inactive industries and establish Aba as a manufacturing leader. Recent efforts include acquiring and reviving legacy assets like Afro Beverages and other industrial facilities.
These initiatives are part of a long-term vision that aims at transforming Aba into a competitive industrial and commercial hub over the next twenty years.
A Signal to Investors
For analysts and investors, the opening sends a strong message: subnational reforms, paired with consistent infrastructure and policy, can attract significant private investment.
Governor Otti reiterated this point, stating that investors look for environments that offer “good returns, long-term safety of investments, and a supportive system.”
Key Takeaways
Who commissioned the project? Governor Alex Otti of Abia State
What was commissioned? A $35 million beverage manufacturing plant
Where is it located? Osisioma Industrial Layout, Aba
Who owns it? Ultimum Beverages Limited (Kadji Group)
Why is it important? It signals renewed industrial growth, job creation, and investor confidence in Abia.
Christianah Agbekeye
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