We Came Here Because of the Energy of Aba: Inside Ultimum’s New $35 Million Beverage Plant

On a bright Wednesday afternoon in late March, something quietly significant happened in Aba. Not far from the bustling markets and the familiar hum of generators, Ultimum Limited threw open the doors to a brand-new, state-of-the-art beverage factory. And while it might have looked like just another commissioning ceremony, the feeling in the air was different almost personal.

Governor Alex Otti of Abia State was there to cut the ribbon. But he didn’t just give a speech. He stood in front of the gleaming facility in the Osisioma Industrial Layout and said something that stuck: investors don’t need heavy-handed persuasion. They can spot opportunity from thousands of miles away, and they quietly move toward places where their money is safe, returns are real, and the system actually works.

That’s exactly what happened here.

The plant is no small venture. Phase one alone cost $35 million, part of a planned $100 million rollout. For now, it’s turning out Razzl Cola, Orange, Lemon, Pamplemousse, and KiQ Energy Drink. But the real product might be something else: belief. Belief that Aba—long known more for grit and street-smart traders than big corporate campuses—can once again be a serious industrial hub.

Whalen Kadji, the chairman of Ultimum Limited, put it simply: “We came here because of the energy of Aba. This is one of the great commercial hubs of West Africa, a place where enterprise lives in the spirit of every trader, every craftsman, and every dreamer.”

That’s not marketing fluff. The plant went from blueprint to bottling in just ten months. That kind of speed doesn’t happen without local know-how, cooperation from the state, and a team that actually wanted to make it work.

For Austin Ufomba, the managing director, this project is personal. He’s a son of the soil. Growing up, he dreamed of bringing something lasting to his hometown. Now, he’s watching that dream take shape in steel, conveyor belts, and cold drinks rolling off the line.

And the impact? It’s real. Hundreds of direct jobs. Thousands more indirectly—from sourcing raw materials to distributing crates across the country. For a state government looking to earn more of its own revenue and rely less on Abuja, that’s gold.

Governor Otti didn’t hide his excitement. “Increased economic activity,” he said, “means we can invest more in infrastructure, education, healthcare, and security.” Not tomorrow. Now.

But here’s the part that might matter most in the long run: Ultimum isn’t stopping here. Kadji made that clear. “What we commission today is only Phase One,” he said. Over the next five years, they’ll expand capacity, roll out new products, and start exporting across West Africa.

In a country where manufacturing has often struggled against imports and policy flip-flops, this plant feels different. Not because it’s perfect, but because it’s proof—proof that when policy meets persistence, when local energy meets serious capital, Nigeria can still build things that matter.

So yes, it’s a vote of confidence. But more than that, it’s a quiet challenge to every other doubter: Aba is ready. Is the rest of the country listening?