The Aba Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture has urged stakeholders to ensure effective execution of the Abia Dry Port project in Ntigha, Isialangwa Local Government Area of the state.
The President of the chamber, Mr Emma Nwakpadolu, told newsmen in Aba that the dry port would bring enormous benefits to the government and people of the state.
Nwakpadolu, who expressed worry that the port had not taken off, said: “The main reason is that the Abia State Government has not paid its 20 per cent equity contribution or counterpart fund to East Gate Terminals Limited.
“The project is contracted to East Gate Terminal Limited on Build, Own, Operate and Transfer and what is holding it is the non-payment of the counterpart fund.
“We are not comfortable because when the port takes off, it will help Abia business community and Aba in particular.’’
According to Nwakpadolu, the project will generate revenue for the state and federal governments and create enormous opportunities for other stakeholders.
He also said part of the proposal was the construction of a rail road from Nwaputa to Ntigha where the project was located to ensure easy movement of cargo.
Some of the enormous benefits of the project, he said, include saving the roads from heavy truck traffic which results in deterioration and creation of thousands of jobs.
Other benefits, he said, were easing transportation of imported raw materials to industries, resuscitation of business outfits as well as elimination of social vices caused by unemployment, he said.
Nwakpadolu, who also noted that the project was capital intensive, urged stakeholders to partner the state government in ensuring the successful execution of the project.
He also appealed to the Abia government to include the project in its budgetary proposal to ensure its prompt take off.