Aba Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (ACCIMA) a city chamber, has appealed to the Federal Government to hasten action towards the completion of Ntigha Dry Port project, in Isiala Ngwa North Local Government Area of Abia State.
This is as the site clearing, which is to prepare the ground for commencement of actual construction work that started in August, 2019 has stalled, casting doubts over the seriousness of the Government, represented by Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC), Abia State Government and Eastgate Limited, the concessionaires, to complete the project.
Lawrence Obetta, president, ACCIMA, made the call in Aba, at a-day clinic on complaint handling mechanism/operations of port services support portal, organised by the Complaints department of the Nigerian Shippers Council.
He observed that the project when completed, would go a long way to resolve all shipment problems encountered by importers and exporters in the South-East region of the country.
The Isiala Ngwa Inland Container Depot, located at Ntigha, was approved alongside six others in 2007. It was the first to get a certificate of occupancy in 2008.
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The concessionaires signed an agreement for commencement of construction at the site in 2009 (10 years ago), but some factors stalled the dry port project commencement.
Before the site clearing began in August, the project had witnessed two ground breaking ceremonies without taking off.
The first ground-breaking ceremony was done during Theodore Orji’s tenure, as Abia Governor, while the second was in the third year of Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu’s first tenure.
Clearing of the site commenced after Eastgate, a Chinese construction company, and the implementation committee on the dry port project, visited Ikpeazu at Abia State Government Lodge, Abuja, to inform him of their readiness to start construction.
Bill Nkemdirim, chief executive officer (CEO) Eastgate also used the forum to formally introduce a team from China Tianchen Engineering Corporation that would handle the actual construction of the project, as well as to further inform him that every arrangement for the construction works had been concluded and that they were ready to start work at the site.
“We are fully prepared to commence construction and we are pleased to have engaged a world class organisation, China Tianchen Engineering Corporation, for the project,” Nkemdirim said.
He explained that the company has successfully commissioned thousands of projects within China and in over thirty countries, cutting across Asia, America, Africa and Europe.
Nkemdirim told the Governor that the dry port project was being undertaken under a boot-build, own, operate and transfer arrangement for a period of 33 years.
He stated that the Federal Government awarded the contract to his company on account of their established track record and experience in managing port operations, stressing that the project would turn around the economic fortunes of the state and the entire South-East region, as it would be the first dry port in the region.
He explained that the construction work on the project would be completed in 24 months and thanked Governor Ikpeazu for going the extra mile to make the project a reality.
According to him, “This project has been on the drawing board for close to 15 years, but the personal style of Governor Ikpeazu gave it a push that brought it to this critical stage”.
He assured that they would deliver the project within schedule.
Governor Ikpeazu in his response reaffirmed the commitment of his administration to the provision of enabling economic environment that would turn Abia State into a choice investment destination in Nigeria.
He expressed delight at the development and assured Eastgate that his government would provide every necessary support to ensure that their work is seamless.
He observed that the dry port project would be a powerful catalyst to the economic development of the state and indeed, the entire South-East region, noting that upon completion, businessmen, involved in import and export, would not have to go beyond the state to enjoy port services as containers to and from the region would be discharged at the port, for onward movement to their final destinations.
Apart from the direct impact on businesses, Ikpeazu added that the location of the dry port would catalyse the growth and development of indirect businesses around the area, in addition to the provision of jobs.
He added that the coming of the Enyimba Economic City would combine with the dry port to positively turn around the economy of the State and the South-East region permanently.
Stressing the importance of inter-modality in ports operations, Ikpeazu challenged the operator to construct a 3km rail line from the project site at Ntigha to link Nbawsi, which is a major railway stop, so as to link the port to other parts of the country.
Founded in 1953, China Tianchen is one of the leading international engineering corporations in the world, providing engineering consulting, design, procurement, construction management and commission supervision.
The delegation from China Tianchen was led by Liang Shen, project manager of the energy division of the organisation, as well as the consultant to the project, Jude Menes of Menes Konsult.
When fully operational, the port is expected to boost business transaction in the South-East and decongest Onne and Port Harcourt ports.
The proposed project, which is a 50,000 TEU (container) port facility, will serve Aba, Onitsha, Enugu, Ebonyi, Imo, Delta and Benue States. The port would receive containerised cargo by rail or road from Port Harcourt.
