Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, OFR, has commissioned the 55-room ORIS Signature Hotel in Aba, using the occasion to assure investors of his administration’s continued commitment to creating an environment where businesses can grow and thrive.
The commissioning ceremony, held on Sunday, September 27, 2026, brought together government officials, business leaders, investors, traditional and community stakeholders, as well as other dignitaries. Contemporary reports also identified the project as part of the growing hospitality infrastructure and private-sector investment activity in Aba.
Speaking at the event, Governor Otti congratulated the hotel’s Chief Executive Officer, Owelle Greg Okafor, for completing the project within a little over two years after its commencement.
According to the Governor, the completion of the hotel reflects the changing economic outlook of Aba, a city he said his administration inherited with significant infrastructure challenges and weakened industrial activity.
Otti recalled the condition of Aba when his administration assumed office and said the situation had changed considerably, pointing to new investments and increasing commercial activities as indications of renewed confidence in the city.
He noted that the ORIS Signature Hotel project reportedly commenced in early 2024 and was completed within two years and a few months.
The Governor further stated that the hotel was already attracting significant patronage even before its formal commissioning, which he described as an indication of the opportunities emerging in Aba.
Otti used the occasion to call on investors who previously relocated from Abia to consider returning to the state, while also encouraging new investors to explore opportunities created by the administration’s efforts to improve the business environment.
The Governor said the transformation underway in Aba and other parts of Abia remains at an early stage, stressing that residents should expect additional development projects in the years ahead.
He also referenced the forthcoming Radisson Blu Enyimba Hotel, expressing confidence that the growing demand for quality accommodation would continue as business activities expand across Aba.
“This town will continue to grow,” Otti said, urging Abians who had relocated elsewhere to consider returning while investment opportunities continue to increase.
The Mayor of Aba North, Hon. Timothy Iheke, commended the Governor for what he described as efforts to improve the investment climate in Aba North and the wider state.
Iheke said the changing business environment had contributed to increased investor interest and property appreciation in areas where real estate previously had limited commercial value. He also praised Owelle Greg Okafor for choosing Aba for the hotel investment.
Earlier, the General Manager of ORIS Signature Hotel, Mr. Sharon Mani, described the facility as a 55-room hospitality establishment equipped with modern amenities.
Mani said the decision to establish the hotel in Abia was influenced by the investment environment created under the Otti administration. He also acknowledged the vision and commitment of the hotel’s Chief Executive Officer in bringing the project to completion.
Representing the Aba business community, industrialist Sir Leo Ike Okoye commended Governor Otti for what he described as his commitment to making Aba more attractive to businesses and investors.
Okoye also praised the hotel’s management for investing in the city and expressed optimism about the future of the establishment.
In his remarks, the CEO of ORIS Signature Hotel, Owelle Greg Okafor, expressed appreciation to Governor Otti and his administration for their efforts toward the redevelopment of Aba.
Okafor said the improved environment in the city had encouraged private investment and expressed confidence that more projects would be delivered in the future.
The event was attended by the Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Emmanuel Emeruwa; members of the State House of Assembly; Commissioner for Culture, Arts and Creative Economy, Dr. Mathew Ekwuribe; other members of the State Executive Council; the Mayors of Aba North and Aba South; business leaders and other dignitaries.
The commissioning of ORIS Signature Hotel adds another private-sector hospitality investment to Aba at a time when the city is attracting renewed attention from investors and businesses. The development also highlights the growing role of private investment in expanding accommodation, hospitality and related economic activities in the commercial city.
ALSO READ: Ohuhu Traditional Prime Ministers Unanimously Endorse Obi Aguocha for Second Term
As Abia continues to position Aba as a major commercial and industrial centre, the Governor’s administration says it will sustain efforts aimed at improving infrastructure and creating conditions capable of supporting further investments across the state.
