An economic zone has been proposed in the Aba area of Abia State to be known as ‘Enyimba Economic City.’ The Marine Club of Nigeria (MCN) that is behind the proposal says the return of Okezie Ikpeazu as governor of Abia State is auspicious for the realisation of the dream city.
According to the proponents, the proposed economic city would be served by a seaport at Ukwa (through Imo River), by the cargo airport at Owerri or another cargo airport at Isiala-Ngwa South, by rail and road links in all directions, by all the facilities and structures of a free trade zone and by unrivalled industrial and trading capacities of the area.
The proposal said the city would have created the greatest maritime and industrial hub in Africa, which would help to reduce or even remove congestions and tensions at Lagos Trade Fair Complex, at Apapa and Tin Can Island Ports, at Sabon Gari Kano and in other parts of Nigeria between Ndigbo and their host communities.
In a letter reminding the Abia governor of the proposal, the president of MCN, Chinedu Jideofo-Ogbuagu, one-time consultant for a UN agency (UNCTAD) where he advised 77 3rd world countries said the proposed Enyimba Economic City would, if realised, be the greatest development milestone in the history of eastern Nigeria since the administration of the late Michael Okpara.
The Ihie Enugu-born expert who holds a Distinction (HND) in Shipping and Masters Degree in Transport Management has a passion for maritime economy which began when he wrote for globally rated but specialised publications such as Lloyd’s List, Shipping World, and Shipbuilder in the UK and is known for developing Cardiff Free Port as well as the NMA that is now NIMASA.
The proposal, which was sent as an ‘Open Letter’ to the Abia State government in March 2019 said the idea began after the emergence of Ikpeazu as candidate in 2015 but that not much has been done in realizing the dream in the fist four years after Ikpeazu’s victory in 2015, thus the need to push the project to the front burner of Abia State governor’s table.
Ogbuagu, who has pursued the establishment of a maritime hub in Nigeria to rule West Africa, and is already the consultant to Martime Academy, Oron, said in the MCN letter that the dream actually began in 2003 and should have become a thriving economy by now.
The proposal said: “We proceeded to do a fresh proposal for creation of a massive free trade zone in the area, which is bigger than Lagos State and has massive adjoining northward land areas for future expansion. Since then, Enyimba Economic City has been further conceptualised and has received a boost from buy-in by the Federal Government of Nigeria led of President Muhammadu Buhari.”
Admitting that Ikpeazu suffered many distractions especially court cases in his first term, the Marine Club of Nigeria said it is now optimistic that the Enyimba Economic City would now move fast to become a mega industrial hub for the South-East geopolitical zone that would suck in both South-East and other investors from Port Harcourt, Lagos, Kano and other Nigerian places as well as investors from abroad. You will agree with us that Enyimba Economic City has become even more urgent than when it was first conceived.”
It is the opinion of the maritime experts that the proposed city would not just be Ikpeazu’s signature project, but would be the greatest single project in the region. “If the Enyimba Economic City is all you would achieve in your second term, your place in history is assured.”
It is not clear how keen the Abia State governor is on the proposed Enyimba Economic City idea and what he is setting up to midwife such a huge project.
The Marine Club of Nigeria (MCN), however, is said to be the incorporated umbrella advocacy association of professionals, businesses, and government agencies involved in the Nigerian Maritime Economy (NIME). It has the likes Alfred Diete-Spiff as patrons.
