By Jonathan Ugbal: Government House Correspondent
The federal government has granted operational approval for the Bakassi Deep Seaport says Cross River Governor, Senator Ben Ayade with the appointment of a transaction adviser to be done in the coming days.
“Today, I am so excited to announce to you that the federal government of Nigeria under the instrumentality of the Federal Ministry of Transport has granted us approval for the procurement of a Transaction Adviser for our Bakassi Deep Seaport” Ayade said while addressing his appointees during a retreat for all appointed public officials in the state at the Obudu mountain resort.
The governor who said that the approval will help clear the minds of those who felt the project could not be achieved pointed out that “the journey towards setting up a deep seaport in the ears and eyes of ordinary person from our perspective, is impossible because it requires multi-billion dollars for the project to be executed”.
The visibly elated Ayade commended the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari and the Transport Minister, Rotimi Amaechi for the approval even as he hoped that; “We shall rise again for the Superhighway and it shall come to pass”.
Also, he disclosed that an approval was also given by the Nigeria Customs Service for ships to berth in the Tinapa Business and Leisure Resort Free Trade Zone Enterprise port, which he said will help in revitalizing the resort which has suffered a marketing and patronage crisis over the years and nearly suffered atrophy”.
“Remember also that we had problems with Tinapa, it was supposed to be a tax haven to improve businesses and increase investment profile and of course encourage traffic into the state, a great conception as it were.
“But for sometimes now, we been having difficulties in bringing in vessels but after my fruitful engagement with the Comptroller General of Customs, Col. Ahmed Ali, he gave a marching order and approval granted that vessels can now come straight to Tinapa unhindered” Ayade said.
He called on public office holders, whom, he said, are key drivers of government programs and policies to position themselves and see the current economic reality as an opportunity to create new vistas for job and wealth creation.
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