Asaba is stepping up efforts to attract investors from Lagos by fostering a more secure and business-friendly environment, with traditional leadership playing a central role in supporting the city’s development agenda.
Speaking on Arise News on Monday, Managing Director of Macfolly Hospitality Limited, Chika Ogeah, said the initiative is part of a coordinated drive led by the Asagba of Asaba to complement government efforts and accelerate economic growth.
Ogeah described the programme as “governance meeting tradition and culture,” adding that the Asagba aims to align community structures with government policies to make Asaba more appealing to investors.
A key step has been the reform of land administration, which previously discouraged investment.
“He’s come out with a clear-cut decree and made sure that all those things are a thing of the past,” Ogeah said, referring to land disputes, multiple ownership claims, and harassment of developers.
The improved environment has opened opportunities across hospitality, real estate, agribusiness, and power sectors, with investors now assured of safety and potential returns.
“Money will always go to where there’s peace, there’s security, there’s guarantee of returns,” Ogeah emphasised.
Asaba’s strategic position near Onitsha offers strong commercial links that can drive regional economic expansion.
“Asaba is almost like a dual city… and there’s a synergy between both,” he said, noting that improved infrastructure, including port development, could reduce logistics costs for businesses.
In the hospitality sector, new developments are underway to meet growing demand.
“Asaba has gotten to that stage where it needs four or five of those kind of global branded hotels… and I think people are stepping up,” Ogeah revealed.
The outreach to Lagos investors aims to directly engage major business stakeholders and showcase Asaba’s potential.
“He’s going to come and tell Corporate Nigeria in Lagos… come to Asaba, come and see for yourself,” Ogeah explained.
While no fixed investment target has been set, the focus remains on creating an enabling environment that will naturally attract capital, driven by improved policies, security, and collaboration between government and traditional institutions.
