Anambra @ 27: Transforming fears to feats, legacies
National Light continues throwing light on the issues that
make the past 27years of Anambra State’s existence very memorable. From the
states keenness for investing in the future through such projects as her
current commitment to building a special-purpose airport, to passionate
interest in workers welfare, among others, the state has shown how all these
lead to growth and social harmony. In this edition, all these and the
foreseeable challenges, as well as prospects of the state are highlighted.
Enjoy it:
AIRPORTS play a considerable role in economic development
and the most important cargo they move is people. Airports are much more than
places to catch planes, attend an in-transit business meeting, or do some
duty-free shopping. They are among the largest investments a city and region
can make.
Take a close look at how airports affect the economic growth
and development of cities and regions. The world’s airlines, according to
latest statistics, carry over three billion passengers a year and 50 million
tonnes of freight. Providing these services generates 9.9 million direct jobs
within the air transport industry and contributes $664.4 billion to global GDP.
Compared with the GDP contribution of other sectors, the
global air transport industry is larger than the automotive industry, which
accounts for 1.2% of global GDP and chemicals manufacturing (2.1%).
In fact, if air transport is viable in Anambra State,
coupled with Governor Obiano’ s good governance , the state’s GDP would rank
among the best in the country.
So in order to achieve its full potentials and expand the
frontiers of excellence , the importance of aviation in Anambra State cannot be
over emphasiesd.
Hence , the executive
governor of Anambra state, Chief Willie Mmaduaburochukwu Obiano during the flag
off the Umueri International Cargo Airport Project last year said ,”What we are
flagging off today is an Airport City Project with a model that will
accommodate an airport with two runways, an aviation fuel dump, an airport
hotel, an industrial business park, an international convention centre, as well
as a facility for aircraft maintenance.
The Umueri airport city project is conceived to join some of
the most advanced airports in the world with a capacity to land any of the most
sophisticated vessels known to man today. It sits on 1500 hectares of land with
enough elbowroom for expansion from Ivite Umueri to neighbouring communities
such as Nando, Umunya, Otuocha, Aguleri, Nteje, Nsugbe and beyond.
“The project is estimated to cost over 2 billion US Dollars.
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-Trans fer
arrangement. However under the same SPV arrangement, the Anambra Airport City
Infrastructure Limited has allocated 75% equity stake to Elite International
Investments Limited, 20% to Oreint Petroleum Resources Limited and 5% to the
Government of Anambra State. The host communities are entitled to 3% of the
profit from this project in perpetuity as a part of the standard corporate
social responsibility.”
Indeed, the economic benefits of the Umueri Airport City
Project are enormous. It is expected to generate 1,200 direct and 3600 indirect
jobs. The 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.
The Umueri Airport City Project would also 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.
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