By Adedapo Adesanya
The Ondo State government has intensified its efforts to build a deep seaport in the state as Governor Rotimi Akeredolu has received the Outline Business Case (OBC), which is one of the critical requirements preceding port declaration which reveals the project as a multi-purpose deep seaport.
Speaking at the event in Akure, Mr Akeredolu noted that the level of cooperation for his administration to establish Port Ondo coupled with the confidence of the consulting firm on the viability of the project is a pointer to its eventual success.
The Governor said the abundance of resources in the state, especially within its riverine communities, coupled with the fact that it has the longest coastline in Nigeria, would make the proposed port the hub for the West Africa sub-region.
“This port is very important to me, to the people of the state, Nigeria, and indeed West Africa. We are going to pursue this dream with vigour,” he said.
He identified a lack of continuity and abandonment of projects by successive administrations as the greatest problems regarding the development of most states in Nigeria.
He noted that if the deep seaport project initiated by the Mr Olusegun Agagu’s administration (2003 – 2009)had been kept alive by the immediate past administration, the state would have by now become a critical player in the maritime sector.
Also speaking, the head of the consulting firm, OIM-FBS Consortium, Mr Ekong Etim, said the OBC is essentially a confirmation of the Governor’s vision that the port is a productive business; worthy of venturing into by both the public and private ownership structure it is designed for.
“We are happy that our report confirms that the Governor’s vision is viable. Its viability has been carefully assessed technically, legally, financially, and economically,” the consultant added.
Mr Etim said the OBC has been submitted to the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), for onward processing through the Federal Ministry of Transportation, and will subsequently receive the attention of Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), for the issuance of Certificate of Compliance, adding that at the procurement stage, which is the final, prospective investors would be invited to form a consortium to finance the deep seaport project.
On his part, the Special Adviser to the Governor/Chief Executive Officer, Ondo State Development and Investment Promotion Agency (ONDIPA), Mr Boye Oyewumi, said: “In two years, we have been to places where people have not been in 14 to 16 years; that is no mean feat. Commitment starts from political will and the determination that whatever happens, this project must come to fruition.
“So, we thank the Governor for being actively involved in the project.”
Mr Oyewumi, who described the project as an investment magnet, assured that given the location, it would enjoy the interest of international investors.
“The construction of the port is off the state’s balance sheet. This means it will not be funded from the coffers of the state. Private investors would develop the port.
“When you have the magnet, metals are attracted to it. Investors, without even having a roadshow before we got to this stage, have been coming to us that they want to invest in the port.
“Two years ago, Dubai Port signed an MoU with us that they wanted to build the port. They did that based on the port’s feasibility, which is different from the OBC.
“We also have a lot of Chinese, South African, and French companies which have shown interest,” he said.
Modupe Gbadeyanka