ANAMBRA STATE GEARS TOWARDS AN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
The Anambra State Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with three firms and the China Aviation Planning and Designing Institute for the construction of an International Airport City in the area. The $2 billion (two billion dollar) project located in Umueri, Anambra East Local Government Area will be developed under a Build, Operate, Manage and Transfer (BOMT) arrangement.
The International Airport City Project will on completion have two runways , an aviation fuel dump, airport hotel, conference centre, shopping mall, industrial business park, Aircraft Maintenance Facility among others. The international investors have an equity stake of 75%, another major sponsor has 25% stake, while the remaining 5% is reserved for Anambra State.
Speaking during the ceremony at the Government House, Awka , Governor Willie Obiano said the project would stimulate investment as well as transform the area into the economic hub of the West African Sub-region. Governor Willie Obiano who described the project as the first of it kinds in Africa, said that it would create jobs.
Governor Obiano, while assuring of the full co-operation of governments realizing its completion, noted that the security of the project was fully assured with the support of the host communities. Earlier in a remark, the Chairman of Anambra State Investment Promoters and Protection Agency and Traditional Ruler of Umuoji, Igwe Cyril Nweze, stated that the project, which would cover a land mass of 1, 500 (one thousand, five hundred) hectares of land in about five communities would create over seven thousand direct and indirect jobs.
The leader of the delegation of one of the firms handling the project, Chief Christian Udechukwu announced that the job would be completed in three years. Two other partners, Mr. Sunny Okoye and Chief Emeka Anyaoku said they were happy to be collaborating with the State Government in delivering a project that would transform the lives of the citizens.
On the occasion, the Chairman Chinese firm handling the Project, Madam Huang Zhi Hui, said the Company was committed to working together for the success of the job. Also, the Deputy Head, China Aviation Planning and Design Institute, Mr. Sun Zhihe, pledged to deliver a world class airport as it had done in other parts of the World and Africa.
NDU NWANNAH