Prof Ndubuisi Ekekwe, Co-chair Abia State Economic Transformation Transition Council, has given a hint why Abia State should partner with her sister State, Akwa Ibom and build a deep seaport.
Prof Ndubuisi made the revelation in a post published on his official website, tekedia.com, the Chairman of FASMICRO Group, averred the need for the two states to come together and execute a deep seaport which will be situated at the Ibom/Ibaka river in Akwa Ibom State.
He said if the seaport is executed, it will be a great promise for Nigeria, stressing the point that “If you have that seaport and link Aba with a railtrack, making it easier to move cargoes from Ibaka/Ibom to Enyimba city, Nigeria will advance.”
Prof Ndubuisi Ekekwe also noted if the two State executes the idea, the North East, Niger Delta and South Eastern corridors of Nigeria will see the cost of shipping drop by at least 27% compared to using Lagos seaports.
His said:
“I like containers because logistics is commerce. Without seaports, many components of market systems fade. Nigeria needs to have more of those critical infrastructures to advance shared prosperity. Ibom/Ibaka deep seaport is a MUST now. It’s about time.
“Ibaka/Ibom deep seaport in Akwa Ibom will be a great promise for Nigeria. If you have that seaport and link Aba with a railtrack, making it easier to move cargoes from Ibaka/Ibom to Enyimba city, Nigeria will advance.
“But Akwa Ibom may not have the capacity to build that seaport alone. Here is a solution: Abia and Akwa Ibom can come together to execute the playbook. If they do, the broad North East, Niger Delta and South Eastern corridors of Nigeria will see the cost of shipping drop by at least 27% compared to using Lagos seaports.
“In America, New York and New Jersey run a common port authority; Akwa Ibom and Abia must execute that template. In the hundreds of suggestions we received for the transformation of Abia, a seaport was a top-five infrastructure. Vox Populi, Vox Dei tekedia.com/the-power-of-s…
Prof Ndubuisi Ekekwe
Co-chair Abia State Economic Transformation Transition Council
