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AKURE – The reason for the delay in the take off of approved Ondo Deep Seaport has been ascribed to the registration and approval of the seaport in the name of one of the partner companies’ name.
This was disclosed by Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa during a press conference with journalists at the launching of Araromi Seaside for tourism development.
He revealed that one of the partner companies was given the licence to develop deep seaport instead of the original owner, Ondo State government.
It would be recalled that at the tail end of President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration, the approval to build the Ondo State seaport was released.
But ever since, nothing has been done at the site.
The governor said: “Let me let you know that because some of you are not aware of an error that was committed when that license was being granted.
“Ordinarily, it is supposed to be owned by Ondo PrimeLimited. When thelicense was issued, enormously it was written in a partner’s name,which is supposed not to be.
“The name on that license at a time was in one of the partners’ name not Ondo Prime Limited. And because of that there’s a contention regarding that.And we have to make so much to get that corrected.
“And you know, it’s like starting a new processentirely. So because of all the processes that it involved, the analysis is a changeable type.We have to do a new business case, full business case to Infrastructure,Construction and Regulatory Commission (ICRC).
“We have to go through all of that,resent new papers and correct names.
“Right now, we are the verge of getting that name corrected and also looking for other investorsto partner with those. I think about two weeks ago, I was in Abu Dhabi in Dubai, United Arab Emirates to discuss some professional investors that are putting so much interest in partnering with the industry, but it is not only on the Deep Seaport. Very soon, you will be hearing moreabout this.
“But I can tell you, on the Deep Seaport, it has come to stay. Yes, it willbe quite a lot here. And because we have the deepest natural water. We have 16.5 meter, that doesn’t existin any part of Nigeria.
“So it is a port that is very strategic that we will notonly benefit from this, but Nigeria.”
Speaking on the Araromi seaside, the governor disclosed that the state is in talks with some investors who have concluded plans to develop the seaside for tourism.
He disclosed that immediately after his inauguration on Monday, he would sign some Memoranda of Understanding(MoU) with some investors.
Aiyedatiwa said he decided to open up the seaside with a view to generate revenue for the state from tourism sector.
“We’re trying to expand our sources of income through tourism. And we have it here in Araromi seaside. You can see by yourself.
“I know some of you have not been here before. Some of you are currently from the northern, so some of you from center have not been here too.
“So close to you that you don’t know that you have it here. Some of you are surprised when you are coming in and you can see the vast coastline, the long coastline.
“It’s a leaning of about 70 kilometers quadrant Ondo State down to Delta State. And we have this land here in Araromi.
“We can create a culture of relaxation and leisure after I had work. I can tell you from here.
“The road is coming very soon that we link Araromi from here down to Lagos. That is the Costal highway that is coming from Lagos to Ondo State down to Delta State. It will take you just 40 to 45 minutes to get to the Lagos State,” the governor said.
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