Ondo State Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, yesterday, said Federal Government’s approval of Ondo Deep Seaport would set the state on the path of economic prosperity.
Akeredolu, who described the approval as cheering, hailed President Muhammadu Buhari and other members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) for the development.
In a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Richard Olatunde, Akeredolu emphasised that the approval was an impressive parting gift from the Buhari administration, stressing that actualising the port project was very important to his administration.
He said: “Ondo port is one of the most important projects of this administration. We are determined and committed to actualising this project that will set our state on the path of economic prosperity.
“Our dream for this port is to serve as a conduit for our goods, agricultural produce, and very soon, our bitumen.
“It is the goal of this administration to ensure that the potential of Ondo State is maximised and that all the necessary infrastructure required to make this a reality are put in place to achieve this.”
On his part, the commissioner representing the state on the Governing Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Gbenga Edema, emphasised that the seaport would provide significant economic, strategic and infrastructure benefits for the state, assuring that as the head of the Public-Private Partnership of the NDDC, the commission would collaborate with the state and other stakeholders to ensure total success of the project.
Edema, who is the immediate past Chairman of the Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (OSAPADEC), also maintained that with the project, the state is gradually moving away from a purely civil service state to a business and commercial hub.
MEANWHILE, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state have described the approval of the deep seaport by FEC as a dream come true for the state.
In a statement by its Chairman, Ade Adetimehin, which was signed by the party’s Publicity Secretary, Alex Kalejaye, the APC said the state would become an investment hub for diverse business interests.
The PDP, on its part, stated: “It is a dream come true for Ondo State because it is a project that dates back to 2004 when Dr. Olusegun Agagu was governor of the state.
“The deep seaport will stimulate economic growth through direct job creation. It will require a workforce to handle various operations, such as cargo handling, vessel operation, maintenance, security and administration. Logistics and supply chains will all require both skilled and unskilled workers.”
Source: The Guardian
