Friday Omosola/Akure
Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu has expressed dissatisfaction over delay in the state seaport declaration by the Federal Government, adding that investors are ready to invest in the development of the Port.
The governor said this at the ongoing Retreat Programme for Political Office Holders and Accounting Officers in the state, which is holding at Mydas Hotel, Owo.
Akeredolu described the delay in the Port declaration as one of the effects of the contradiction in the country’s federalism, and said states should be allowed to develop their Seaport, provided there are interested investors.
He assured that nothing will stop the actualization of the project, stressing that the Port will not only serve Nigeria, but the whole of west Africa when developed.
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“For us as a state, we have been at this since our first day in government. We found out that we have the deepest draft in Ondo state. Our port, we will go ahead. Nothing will stop it, it is a matter of time. It is a port, not only for Nigeria but for west Africa because of its deepest draft.
“How do we finance it? I travelled; I spoke to Dubai port. I spoke to China habour. Dubai port has even written that they are interested.” he explained.
The Trumpet recalls that the governor earlier said the development of a deep seaport project in the state will generate more than N500 billion investment to the host communities in Ilaje Local Government Area where government is proposing to establish the port.
But added that it was working with the federal government to towards obtaining a port declaration for the seaport