FG to give special attention to Bakassi Deep seaport, superhighway in 2022 ― Ayade

Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State has announced that two of the state’s signature projects, the Bakassi Deep Seaport and the 275 kilometres superhighway would be accorded top priority by the Federal in the 2022 budget to ensure the full realisation of the projects.

Governor Ayade made the announcement on Tuesday at the Margaret Ekpo International Airport, Calabar, on his arrival from Abuja, where he spent one week, interfacing with Federal Government on federal projects in the state.

The governor also disclosed that the Bakassi Deep Seaport had been approved as Nigeria’s first agro deep seaport by the federal government.

Expressing excitement at the outcome of his meeting with key officials of the Presidency, Governor Ayade said  “I had a very wonderful session with the presidency and I want to announce with joy that the presidency has shown a very strong commitment to the Bakassi Deep Seaport and the superhighway which is basically the core reason of my being in Abuja for this long.”

Ayade who acknowledged the role played by some key presidency officials also thanked them for their support.

“I want to thank the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha, Chief of Staff to the President, Professor Ibrahim Gambari, Minister for Transport, His Excellency, Rotimi Amaechi, his colleague in the Aviation Ministry, Seriki Hadi, Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Shamsuna Ahmed.”

Similarly, the governor extended his appreciation to his colleague governors from the North, noting that “they also spoke strongly in support of the projects as well as others I had met in the course of sharing my dreams and thoughts on the Bakassi Deep seaport with an evacuation corridor through the 275km superhighway.”

Continuing, the governor added that “the President is committed to seeing that this project is realised and I want to especially thank the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the strong commitment of the holistic team of the APC family who is fully committed to the realization of this opportunity. Besides also, it is only natural for the South South and the South Eastern flanks to have a direct maritime connection to Northern Nigeria.”

Re-echoing his ambition for the two projects, Ayade said: “Again, I would like to reiterate that my ambition is to take the Atlantic Ocean closer to Northern Nigeria to allow them the beneficiation process of taking full advantage of solid minerals deposits that abound in the northern part. Unfortunately, these huge mineral deposits will remain unexploited as far as there is no access to a maritime corridor.

“So the Bakassi deep seaport with an evaluation corridor through the superhighway creates a great opportunity for Northern Nigeria to have a bliss and an opportunity to have a getway into financial freedom.”

According to the governor, “Indeed, I believe that the prosperity agenda that will be ushered into Northern Nigeria, occasioned by the existence of this superhighway and the deep seaport will be unbelievable, because as it is today, Nigeria has only one maritime getway in terms of commercial maritime transaction.”

Speaking on the general outlook for the country in relation to oil, Ayade quipped: “I think that Southern Nigeria must also come to the understanding that oil is gradually becoming a thing of the past. By 2030, there will be no engine, be it diesel or petrol driven that will be manufactured. So with Nigeria consuming about a 65million litres of petrol in a day, you will then expect that quantity to drop. The demand for refined products will drop and the demand for solid minerals like coal tar will be on the rise and that, which we have in abundance in Northern Nigeria.

“So whether the north or the south, we both need each other and we must come together and share the prosperity that this country has got. That is what I am preaching and I strongly believe it is the way for us to move forward as a country.”

YOU SHOULD NOT MISS THESE HEADLINES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE

Buhari Urges MTN For Quality Service, Downward Price Review In Cost Of Data, Other Services

President Muhammadu Buhari Friday at State House Abuja urged the MTN Group to make the available top-of-the-range service to its Nigerian subscribers…  FG to give special attention to Bakassi Deep seaport, superhighway in 2022  ;  FG to give special attention to Bakassi Deep seaport, superhighway in 2022  ;  FG to give special attention to Bakassi Deep seaport, superhighway in 2022   ;  FG to give special attention to Bakassi Deep seaport, superhighway in 2022.