There has been a wave of commendations following Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti’s recent approval for a feasibility study on the proposed Azumini-Obeaku seaport and Inland waterways corridor project in Abia State.
The Governor’s Chief Press Secretary Ukoha Njoku Ukoha, in a release he signed and made available to newsmen said, “Governor Otti, granted the approval on Tuesday, during a meeting with a team from China Harbour Engineering Company Ltd led by Nicholas Liu, in his office.
“The governor authorized the company to conduct the feasibility study within the shortest possible time, rather than the proposed 6 months”.
The Governor further said, “while the feasibility study is on, we need to start the process of getting the approval of the Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA), the Ministry of Blue Economy and of course, the President”.
In his presentation earlier, the leader of the team, “Mr. Nicolas Li said that the China Harbour Engendering Company Limited is seeking to partner with the Abia State Government to realize the proposed Sea Port project.
Mr Liu, who noted that they have deep understanding of the Nigerian Infrastructural projects having worked on many roads and other projects in Nigeria including the Lekki Deep Sea Port project which is their flagship project, maintained that there are 4 factors that make such projects workable.
He said that those factors include; government commitment, funding arrangements, PPP structure and phased development, and stressed the need for feasibility study among other things to enable the project commence.
He further made various recommendations to the Governor on how to go about the proposed project.
The project presentation meeting was attended by the Principal Secretary to the Governor and Chief Strategy Officer of the Government, Mr. Chinenye Mba-Uzoukwu, Hon. Commissioner for Transport, Dr Chimezie Ukaegbu, among other Commissioners and senior appointees of the government”.
