Excitement as Anambra plans $2b international airport city
- Governor Obiano said Anambra indigenes will make up 75 percent of the workforce of the international airport
- Upon completion, the airport is expected to help ease the difficulty faced by importers especially in the south-east zone
Anambra state is preparing to have an international airport as Governor Willie Obiano has successfully signed a memorandum of understanding with two investment companies for the project.
The governor signed the $2 billion agreement with Orient Petroleum Resources and Elite International Investment Limited for the construction of the international airport city in Umueri, Anambra East local government area.
Obiano said at the Government House Awka where the agreement was signed that the project would help to reduce the cost of importation and boost development in the state.
“The project is estimated to cost over $2 billion. It is a partnership between the government of Anambra state, Orient Petroleum Resources Limited and Elite International Investments Limited (Sinoking Enterprises Limited).
“Under the contractual agreement, Elite International Investments Limited will provide all the funds needed for the project under the Build-Operate-Manage-and-Transfer arrangement.
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“However under the same SPV arrangement, the Anambra Airport City Infrastructure Limited has allocated 75 percent equity stake to Elite International Investments Limited, 20 percent to Oreint Petroleum Resources Limited and 5 percent to the government of Anambra state.
“The host communities are entitled to 3 percent of the profit from this project in perpetuity as a part of the standard corporate social responsibility,” he said in the speech obtained by Legit.ng.
The governor said the project is expected to generate 1,200 direct and 3600 indirect jobs adding that Anambra indigenes are expected to grab 70 percent of these jobs.
“It will also provide an opportunity for training and skills transfer to our people. I have no doubts whatsoever that this project will have a tremendous impact on the ease of doing business in Anambra state as it opens a direct access by air to our vast markets.
“In particular, I hope that on completion, the Umueri Airport City project will wipe out the difficulties our businessmen and women often encounter in exporting and importing goods and services and help in improving the entire supply chain," he said.
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The chairman of Anambra state Investment Promotion and Protection Agency (ANSIPPA), Igwe Cyril Enweze, who spoke more about the project, said it would promote rapid urbanisation and increase the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the state.
Watch this video of the closure of the Abuja airport for the repair of its runway:
Source: Legit.ng
