Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti, has declared that work on the proposed Seaport at Ukwa East LGA of the State would only commence when adequate funds are secured to ensure its completion.
Governor Otti who disclosed this, Wednesday, at his Nvosi Isialangwa South LGA office, when he received a delegation of the Ezumezu Ndoki Patriotic Association said that although the project remains a priority, he would not allow it to start without the certainty of funding.
“I was the one that came up with the idea that we needed a seaport. The Chinese that are working with us have turned in their feasibility reports and clearly, a lot of dredging is required.
“From that report, if I’m not mistaken, we need to dredge about 19.5 kilometres to the high sea, so that is not consistent with the preliminary initial report that we got.
“To do this kind of work requires a whole lot of money. We have now gone back to the drawing board because before we start any project, a lot of things are important to us.
“One, we must ensure that it is viable. Two, before we start, we must see the money, so that we don’t start a project and abandon it or delay it”, the Governor stated.
Governor Otti added that partnerships, approvals and licences must also be secured before the project can take off, noting that his government would not allow it to become an abandoned scheme.
“So we will not start the seaport project until we are very sure that we have the funds available”, the Governor reiterated.
Responding to concerns raised about some ongoing road projects, Governor Otti assured the people of Ukwa that his administration would not abandon any road projects midway but will see them through to completion.
He explained that the Akirika-obu route, which begins from Obingwa and terminates in Akwa Ibom was still under construction and disclosed that challenges on the Obohia road were being addressed.
The Governor explained that the Obohia road project required a new tunnel after discovering that the original one had been blocked, pointing out that constructing a new tunnel would be more effective and cost-efficient.
Governor Otti reassured the people of Ukwa people of his administration’s commitment to their development and thanked them for appreciating the modest achievements of his administration over the past 27 months.
Earlier, the Mayor of Ukwa East LGA, Mr Chibunna Akara, told the Governor that many stakeholders in the area had accepted to join his “moving train”, and commended the Governor for his transformational leadership across the State.
In his remarks, the leader of the delegation and President of the Ezumezu Ndoki Patriotic Association, High Chief I. N. Ahunanya, urged the Governor to give attention to the Ukwa seaport and some ongoing road projects, while pledging the group’s support for his re-election bid in 2027.
