– 45 consultants already on the field, working
– Government says multipurpose facility will decongest Lagos ports
– open up Ondo to mainstream global businesses
– unlock state potentials for international patronage
Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu,SAN, has assured that the proposed multipurpose Deep Sea Port in the state would open up the state economy beyond sub Sahara Africa to the mainstream of international business .
He stated this during the signing of the Consultancy Services Agreement between the State Government and Maritime and Transport Business Solutions, MTBS, Limited of Netherlands, for the conduct and preparation of feasibility study and conceptual master plan design for the development of a multipurpose Deep Sea Port at Erunna-Ogboti-Ugbonla in Ilaje Local Government Area of the state.
Astatemennt by Mr Bode Akinwumi, Press Officer to the Governor said that Akeredolu, represented by his Deputy, Hon Agboola Ajayi, said the project would solve the perennial congestion problems in Lagos, hence the need to allow for the development of more ports.
Apart from decongesting the Lagos Ports, the Governor noted that it will go a long way to boost the economic growth of Ondo State through the mega city project that will house industries as well as other economic potentials.
“Nigeria can afford up to five Ports, we can’t just stay in Apapa and think things would improve and I’m sure the country is looking up to us and we are believing in you, our partners for the realisation of this project.
“This development is an attestation of the present administration’s commitment to industrialise the state through seaport development for the benefits of our people.
“Signing of the agreement is to implement the core cardinal programmes of this administration at boosting the socio-economic growth of the state by maximising its potentials,” he said.
Describing the proposed Port as a good legacy of the present administration, he emphasized that thousands of employment opportunities will be created through the project.
He noted that the state being the most peaceful among the Niger Delta states and the most business friendly for diverse investments in view of its avalanche of potentials, credible investors would continue to show interest at partnering the State Government.
In his presentation, Managing Director of Maritime Business and Transport Solution Limited of Netherlands, Mr Paul Van Eulem explained that his company would carry out feasibility study, which he said would take about 10 weeks to plan and design before moving into the implementation stage.
The Managing Director who noted that MTBS was reputed for building Sea Ports across the world, stated that the proposed Port would ease Lagos Ports and would be financially viable.
He promised that the company would inject its vast technical network and knowledge into the project.
Earlier, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Investment and Development who is also the Vice- Chairman of Ondo State Investment and Promotion Agency, ONDIPA, Mr Boye Oyewumi had commended Governor Akeredolu for his efforts aimed at changing the state from being a civil service state to an industrialized one.
He said the project marks the beginning of the State’s industrialisation process which would open up the state for business and employment opportunities and change the landscape of the State.
“Ondo State is walking its talk by making the Sea Port development a reality.
“Finally, work has started and we already have 45 Consultants on the field working day and night and the Dutch Consultants will also join them to do the Port feasibility.
“This signifies that the people of Ondo State and the South West in particular must get ready because a revolution coming.
“When you have a Deep Sea Port, an Industrial City and a Free Trade Zone, all on the same site, then everyone would know we are ready for business. There is no part of this country that has those facilities domiciled in the same place as we would have them here”, he said.
He hinted that the project which would be in phases, would take between 10-20 years for the full phase to be completed, adding that it would create abundance of direct and indirect jobs and opportunities for residents of the areas who are the direct beneficiaries.
“We also want to ensure the host communities are skilled to enable them tap into the opportunities that would come from these new ventures because we want to avoid a situation whereby the job would go to outsiders.
“We want the jobs to remain in those communities so that every expenditure, investment would domicile in those communities”, he stated
Also the Chairman, Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, OSOPADEC, Hon Gbenga Edema described the project as landmark in the process of developing the state and Ilaje in particular.
He commended the Governor for being committed to his promises of developing the coastal area without which the state would remain an administrative and a civil service state.
He stated that OSOPADEC was responsible for creating a conducive environment for the business to thrive and had also moved to train the people of the area on vocational studies to get them prepared for the take-off of the project so that they do not lose out while looking for people to man the equipment.
While commending residents of the area who he described as the first beneficiaries for their massive cooperation so far, he assured of their total support towards ensuring that all the projects are successful
In his contribution, the Business Adviser to ONDIPA, Mr Ayo Ipaye hinted that the industrial estate within the Mega City would create a new market for foreign investments and provide multi-level employment opportunities for the unemployed.
He added that it would also enhance the livelihood of both Ondo State indigenes and all Nigerians who would wish to migrate to the zone.
Ipaye who stressed that the project spreads across a proposed 30,000 hectares of land, hinted that it would be the most significant project in the country in the next few years.
In his remark, the Business Development Manager of Amiable Consultancy and Logistics Limited, (the maritime consulting firm in respect of the Deep Sea Project), Mr Joshua Kikeme presented an appraisal of efforts already put into the project by critical stakeholders, in line with the vision of the State Government, and returned a verdict of enthusiastic commitments and positive collaborations
Present at the event were: Secretary to the Ondo State Government, SSG, Hon Ifedayo Abegunde who signed the agreement on behalf of the State Government; the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Chief Olugbenga Ale; Commissioners for Lands and Housing, Mr Donald Ojogo; Economic Planning and Budget, Pastor Emmanuel Igbasan; Environment, Mr Funso Esan; and Secretary, ONDIPA, Mr Emmanuel Omomowo and others.
Officials of the Dutch Firm and the Maritime Consultant to the state were also the present .
