All needed logistics are now set for the effective takeoff of construction activities from January at the proposed multibillion naira Enyimba Economic City (EEC), Aba in Abia State.
This was made public by the Director General of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), Engr Chidi Izuwah in an interview.
He said EEC which spans across Ukwa East, Ukwa West and Ugwunagbo, all in Abia State is expected to attract long term and foreign investments which would sit on a 9,803 Hectares of land, spanning the three Local Government Areas (LGAs).
The Commission, the project is combining the clear focus of the private sector and the enabling powers of the governments at all level.
While revealing that the city is seating at the center of the five South-East and four South-South states, Izuwah averred that the scheme has the right characteristics and ingredients to drive massive economic expansion of the region and by extension Nigeria.
According to ICRC, the positioning study indicates that Enyimba Economic City will at capacity, provide over 625,000 jobs, urban housing of over 300,000 units, urban population of more than 1.5 Million people. It is projected that the city will provide more than 2,000 industrial/ business units, with estimated annual value output of more than $5 billion.
The Commission added that “The project has major arterial, intercity roads connections and it is near existing sea ports (Onne and Port Hacourt) and proposed Akwa Ibom Deep Sea Port. It has proximity to Airports (Owerri, Port Harcourt and Uyo)”.
“It has functional gas pipelines and boarder Owaza gas fields. It transverses by existing National Rail line, Port Harcourt to Maiduguri.
Izuwah disclosed further that the key pillars of Enyimba Economic City is to create a global business hub that connects the nine South East 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 such as logistics, medical, entertainment, education, lifestyle residential, among others.
Continuing, ICRC noted that EEC is coming on a structured 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.
“On that basis, the Federal Government has designated Enyimba Economic City a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) with Free Trade Zone Status and one of the three pilots that include Kano and Lagos. It has also taken 20 per cent equity in the project.
“The first phase of the project is fully designed and the projection is that 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,” ICRC boss disclosed.
Business Hilights recalls that the positioning and master planning of the city was done by Surbana Jurong of Singapore and CBRE of India in collaboration with local partners.
