Otti grants approval for a feasibility study on proposed Azumini sea port
Ogbonnaya Ikokwu, Umuahia
The Abia State Governor Alex Otti, has approved the conduction of immediate feasibility study on the proposed Azumini – Obeaku – Sea Port and Inland Waterways Corridor project in Abia State.
Otti granted the approval on Tuesday, during a meeting with a team from the China Harbour Engineering Company Limited led by Nicolas Liu in his office.
The governor authorised the company to carry out the feasibility study within the shortest possible time, rather than its proposed 6 months.
“Somehow, deep in my mind, I know that this is the approach. It is good to understand the details and all what is required.
“So, I think you can take it that approval has been given for the feasibility study to commence.
“But then, you still need to come back, how do you say, 6 to 7 months? That’s a long time. And if we can shorten it, that will help,” Otti stated.
The governor further directed that while the feasibility study is on, “We need to start the process of getting the approval of the NPA and of course, the Ministry of Blue Economy. And of course, the President.
“So, I think we need to start the process immediately. Hoping that the feasibility study will return positive. Because you may also conduct the feasibility study and say that it is not viable”, he said.
The governor equally noted that it may be appropriate for the company to visit the proposed site even before the commencement of the feasibility study.
“Of course. I do know that where we are talking about is about 19 nautical miles from the High Sea. That’s the impression I got.
“Maybe, when you visit, you can come up with the specifics. So, if it is about 19 nautical miles, the question of viability will now come to play. Because what it requires will now be dredging.
“And dredging increases the cost. So then, I’m not a technical person, but at least, I have an idea of what I want to achieve,” Otti noted.
The State Chief Executive thanked the team for the presentation and expressed the hope that the project if well followed, would be achieved.
In his presentation earlier, the leader of the team, Mr. Nicolas Liu, said that the China Harbour Engendering Company Limited is seeking to partner with Abia State Government to realize the proposed Sea Port project.
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.