Otti approves feasibility study to revive Abia’s seaport project

Alex Otti, governor of Abia State, has approved a feasibility study for the proposed Azumini–Obeaku Seaport and Inland Waterways Corridor project.

The governor, with under a year left in his term in office, announced this on Wednesday in a tweet after receiving a delegation from China Harbour Engineering Company Limited, led by Nicolas Liu.

“I have granted approval for an immediate feasibility study on the project. While the company initially suggested a six to seven-month timeline, I have directed that the study be completed within a shorter period so that progress can be accelerated,” he wrote.

CHEC completed the construction of the Lekki Deep Sea Port, Nigeria’s only deep seaport, in 2022. They are also the largest shareholder of the port with a 52.2 percent equity stake following the injection of $221 million into the project in 2021.

Read also: Inside Nigeria’s most advanced deep- seaport

The governor said that the process would run in parallel with efforts to secure approvals from relevant federal agencies, including the Presidency, the Nigerian Ports Authority, and the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy.

Read also: NSC says Abia dry port will create jobs, boost South-East’s economy

“I have also encouraged the team to visit the proposed site to assess its viability, given its proximity to the High Sea and the technical requirements such as dredging,” he added.

The Azumini–Obeaku seaport concept has surfaced in policy and investment discussions in Abia State over the years, particularly under previous administrations, but has not progressed beyond early-stage planning.

During the tenure of former governor Okezie Ikpeazu, the state entered into discussions and preliminary agreements with private investors around a proposed deep seaport in the Obeaku axis.

The plan was tied to dredging the Azumini river system to create a navigable link to the Atlantic and position Abia, a landlocked state, as a logistics hub for the South-East.

However, those efforts did not advance to execution.

Publicly available information shows the project remained at the level of proposals, feasibility conversations, and investor engagement, with no final investment decision or construction phase announced.

Otti acknowledged the difficulty, adding that success would depend on “strong commitment, proper funding, and strategic partnerships.”