EMERGENCE OF ENYIMBA ECONOMIC CITY; A TIMELY AND TANGIBLE INTERVENTION
Nowadays, when I read about what I choose to refer to here as “the Igbo quagmire experience” across major cities especially in the western and northern parts of Nigeria it brings to mind the timeliness of and, or the numerous opportunities open for Igbo business community to invest in Enyimba Economic City (EEC) project, to come home and invest. However, with key investors like Mr. Darl Uzu, RIYU Group and other already developing business bases, latecomers may be scampering for space. Hence, the time to invest is now.
On a speedy lane towards realization, EEC project has successfully and progressively scaled through stages of materialization. The stages (listed below) thumbnails factors and elements guaranteeing investment cum investors’ sustainability and protection.
1. Execution and endorsement of Project Agreement with the Abia State Government.
2. Acquisition and issuance of Certificate of Occupancy of the Project Site by Abia State Government
3. Passage and signing into law Special Economic Zone Bill by Abia State House of Assembly and the Governor of Abia State Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu. This Bill goes to the extent of protecting the project against the State government itself.
4. Finalization of the Master Plan and Market Positioning Study by Surbana Jurong of Singapore and CBRE, India.
5. Project Infrastructure Design by Surbana Jurong of Singapore.
6. External Infrastructure: Assemblage of a consortium for the concession of the outside fence infrastructure which includes the A3 Port Harcourt / Enugu Federal Highway and new proposed Onne Port / Obinze in Owerri Road.
7. Energy: Discussions are on the table for the joint venture of Geometric Power, Siemen of Germany and Orascom of Egypt power to dedicate the new 540MW Abia Power Plant in Ogwe which is within the boundary of the City to EEC.
8. Phase 1 Kickoff: Finalizing discussion with 4 Anchor Companies to start off the Phase 1 Pilot Project.
9. Designation of project Site as Special Economic Zone by the Federal Government of Nigeria.
10. Submission of all application requirements including Master Plan, Feasibility, Environmental and Social Impact Analysis e.t.c to NEPZA for approval which have been sent to the President of Federal Republic of Nigeria for final Approval and Gazetting.
11. Appropriation of Federal government contribution of 10 Billion Naira towards supporting the project in 2018 budget.
12. Negotiation of MOU with Federal Ministry of Industry Trade and Investment involving taking equity with EECD and providing other forms of support
13. Interested Parties: AFREXIM has indicated interest on the project. Africa Finance Corporation has indicated interest to provide funding for the outside fence road infrastructure of the City. Africa Development Bank has also indicated interest and discussions are on-going with them.
14. Negotiation of MOU with Chinese EPC contractor CGCOC that include sourcing for buyer credit from China Ex-Im Bank for 1,800 Hectares start-up phase of anchor drivers.
Enyimba Economic City (EEC) is the first ever free export industrial zone to be situated in the entire South East of Nigera. The project is a Public Private Partnership/Investment Promotion Office initiative of Abia State government aimed at creating industrial investment hub central to South East and South South States linked with high access road, sea port, railways amongst others. It would transform the region into a manufacturing power house.
EEC is covering over 9,500 hectares beyond Aba and three Local Government Areas (Ugwunagbor, Ukwa’s West and East) in Abia State. More particularly, the location of the special industrial zone is strategic for easy access to all the South East and South-South States. This is because Abia State is in the confluence of the States in the South East and South South zone of Nigera. EEC would provide more than 2,000 industrial units and would have industrial park, logistics, entertainment villages, medical, ICT hubs amongst others.
The Governor of Abia State, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, who sees this project as one of the flaship projects of his administration has vowed to accelerate the project in his second term in office. His intention is solely to ensure that the targeted 700,000 jobs for the young graduates and other Abia people and residents is realised.
As a transgenerational leader, Governor Ikpeazu thinks for both the present and future generation, hence the initiation of this gigantic life-improving project that has never been engaged in before now in the entire Igbo land. He is very much committed to working with everyone to deliver greater development to Abia people.
It is imperative to stress that the boost Enyimba Economic City received recently owing to the signing of agreement between the State and Federal government sealed permanently the mouths of those who claimed it was a white elephant project. They have been ultimately put to shame. Meanwhile, Governor Ikpeazu has received an award from the Presidency and World Bank in acknowledgement of the rapid improvements in “Ease-Of-Doing-Business” in Abia State, which is also a boost to what the Governor is about doing in Enyimba Economic City.
The importance of the project cannot be over emphasized and it is very apt now that the nations of the world are diversifying to non oil sector. The free export zone would create employments and grow Abia State and South East economy. There is therefore need for all Abians to appreciate and support Governor Ikpeazu’s genuine efforts to better the lives of the people of the State. Of course, for this project and others to be achieved in the State, the people should speak against distractions of any kind and support the Governor to ensure his dreams come true.
UNU,
A concerned Abia Citizen writes.
(newmanubani@yahoo.com)
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