Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah has reiterated the government’s resolve to harness the opportunities presented by the Ogurugu waterway and jetty, to boost the state’s economy, ease transportation and create employment.
The Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, has assured Nigerians of an expedited work on the proposed naval base in the coastal community, to strengthen security and shore up investors’ confidence in Enugu State.
Governor Mbah stated this during an inspection tour of facilities at Ogurugu jetty with Rear Admiral Ogalla.
Governor Mbah, represented by Deputy Governor Ifeanyi Ossai, expressed the government’s support to the proposed naval base by the Navy.
Read Also: Peter Mbah’s awkward start
Mbah said: “The economy of Nigeria is essentially road-driven and that contributes to damage to our roads because no one measures the axle weight. But with the investment the Navy is trying to make on our waters, they can now police the navigable waterways, which is cheaper for the movement of goods. That was why colonial companies such as UAC, John Holt, among others, used this place as a forwarding base for the trades they did have.
“So, what this will essentially do is that it will help to explode the economy of Enugu State. It is going to be a major contributor to growing our economy from $4.4 billion to $30 billion as we promised our people. It is going to enhance our planned special crop processing zone because for those heavy products, we have processed and we can’t fly from Enugu, we have an internal navigable water to move them to forward operating waters of the Atlantic.
“Therefore, as already stated at the Government House, we will give the Navy and indeed the Federal Government all the support to make the project happen in no distant time”.
Speaking at the Ogurugu jetty, the Chief of Naval Staff said expeditious action would be given to the setting up of the naval facilities, adding that the base would be of immense benefit not only to the Southeast, but also the North Central zone.