FG signs deal for Enyimba City economic zone project

 Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja

President Muhammadu Buhari and  the Governor of Abia State Okezie Ikpeazu, witnessed the signing, between Federal Government’s representative, Nigeria Special Economic Zone Company and the Enyimba City Economic Zone Limited.

The project is a 9,803 Hectares of new economic city, spanning three (3) Local Government Areas of Abia State, Ukwa East, Ukwa West and Ugwunagbo.

The project which is Private Public Partnership (PPP) of Crown Realties Plc, the Host Communities, Abia State Government and the Federal Government of Nigeria under project Made In Nigeria for Export (MINE) of Federal Government of Nigeria,  targets to provide over 625,000 jobs, urban housing of over 300,000 units, urban population of more than 1.5 Million people. It is also projected to provide more than 2,000 industrial/ business units, with estimated annual value output of more than $5 billion.

According to the briefs of the project made available to State House Correspondents, key pillars of Enyimba Economic City is to create a global business hub that connects the nine (9) Southeast and South South States, build first class infrastructure in the location, including dedicated power and attract economic activities that are mainly driven by manufacturing and supported by other uses e.g. Logistics, Medical, Entertainment, Education, Lifestyle Residential etc.

Construction will commence in Q1, 2019 and various major anchor tenant discussions are progressing well for manufacturing transfers from China, Germany and other Countries to the new city.

President Buhari in his remarks, thanked the host communities for their commitment to the project, saying that everyone should be more confident of the the success of the project since the Minister of Trade and Investments, Okechukwu Enelamah, under whose portfolio it falls, hails from Abia State.

The President assured the people of Abia State and other Nigerians of the  Federal Government’s support and cooperation towards similar project anywhere in the country.

President  Buhari specifically commended Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, and some private sector investors who initiated and midwifed the Enyimba city economic zone project.

He said such initiatives were exactly what his administration was desperately looking for to create employment for the populace and boost the national economy.

In his remarks, Ikpeazu, who led the delegation of leaders and stakeholders from the state, thanked the President for his support for the project, noting that Aba, a commercial city in Abia State where the project is sited, is strategically located for easy access from all Southeast and South-South States.

He disclosed that Aba alone has over 250,000 artisans engaged in various arts and trades, and that the Enyimba City zone covers three local governments of the state.

Ikpeazu noted that the project would not only be of immense benefit to Abia State but to the entire region and country.

Professor (Eze) Maxwell Ogbulu, who spoke on behalf of the host communities, profusely thanked Ikpeazu for the project and informed the President that all the affected communities donated the land for it voluntarily because of the awareness of the enormous benefits to them and the nation.

He thanked Buhari specially for finding it worthwhile to have the signing ceremony hold at the Presidential Villa and for his magnanimity in ensuring the project came thus far and for personally attending the ceremony.

At the event were the former Senate President Adolphus Wabara; Vice-Chancellor of Abia State University; and some Abia State House of Assembly members, among others.

On the government side were Enelamha; Governor of Central Bank, Godwin Emefiele; Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed and Secretary to Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha.

Abia State Commissioner for Lands, Survey and Urban Planning, Uche Ihediwa, signed the agreement on behalf of the State government; Mr. FemiEdun, Director of Nigeria Special Economic Zone Company, signed for the Federal Government; while Mr Darl Uzu signed for Crown Realities Limited, the private sector developer.