The Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo has flagged off the historic proposed hydrographic survey of the dredging of Oguta/Orashi river to Degema in Rivers State as a proposed sea route to the Atlantic Ocean.
The vice president who performed the flag off in a ceremony at the bank of Oguta Lake/Orashi river in Oguta council area of Imo, on thursday, said the project was under the auspice of the Imo State government, the Nigerian Navy and a consortium of technical partners with the approval of President Muhammadu Buhari.
Osinbajo, said the project would among other things connect waterways to hinterlands as well as expand Nigeria’s shipping and agricultural sectors.
He added that the project would expand Nigeria’s free trade zone and aid her contributed quota to trade in Africa and the world.
He enjoined well-meaning Nigerians to join hands with the Imo government and Nigerian Navy to see the project to fruition.
“Today marks an important milestone in the economic development of Imo, the South-east and Nigeria at large and couldn’t have come at a better time than now.
“It gives me great pleasure to be part of this historic initiative. I enjoin all well-meaning Nigerians to put hands on deck to actualise this project,” he added.
Speaking, Governor Hope Uzodimma thanked Buhari for his support in the recovery of Imo from the hands of bandits.
He said the project would be executed through public/private partnership adding that it would create additional employment opportunities for Imo people.
“This project is a harbinger of several other multifaceted projects encapsulated in the socio-economic development of Imo State with the capacity to equip the southeast with a robust and self-sufficient economy.
“We will establish an industrial cluster in the area to aid economic activities and for the record, Imo and the private sector will fund projects in close synergy with the Nigerian Navy”, he said.
Also, Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor thanked Buhari for the leverage to build the capacity of the Nigerian Navy and the military at large.
Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo said the project would provide the enabling environment for wealth generation and brisk movement of goods and services.
He called for a quick dredging of the access route and thanked Buhari for the provision of effective hydrographic services.
He also thanked Uzodimma for partnering with the Nigerian Navy and called on host communities to protect and preserve the legacy.
On his part, Iwuanyanwu described the dredging as a dream come true and urged the government to speedily actualise the project.
“Igbo is happy, Igbo is grateful. We urge the federal government to actualise the construction of the project. Igbo people in diaspora are ready to contribute to the funding of the project, if need be,“ he said.
The event was attended by prominent traditional rulers including the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Achebe and the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Eze Ilomuanya and Imo State Chairman of Traditional rulers, Eze Emmanuel Okeke.
Other dignitaries were Minister for Trade and Investment, Alhaji Muazu Sambo; former Imo governor, Chief Ikedi Ohakim; former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Maurice Iwu; officials of the Imo government as well as top officials of the Nigerian Navy.
Amby Uneze
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