At last, Anambra joins International Cargo Airport owners

The long awaited international cargo airport in Anambra state that has seen deliberations by many administrations has taken off at last.

On Tuesday April 11th at Umueri, Anambra East Local Government Area on Tuesday April 11th, the host community (Umueri) witnessed the ground-breaking ceremony and signing of Agreement between the Anambra State Government, Orient Petroleum Resources Plc. and Elite International Investment Holding Limited, with China Aviation Planning & Development Company Limited as well as Osike Synergy Nigeria Limited and Emsworth Oil & Gas Limited as Facilitators.

Estimated to cost a whopping 2 billion dollars, the project known as Aerotropolis, is an Integrated Modern City of its own, comprising an International Airport with 2 Runways, Malls, Industrial and Business Parks and Airport Hotels.

Also, the project is envisaged to create 1200 direct jobs and over 6,000 indirect jobs in the state with 75 % of the jobs reserved for Ndi Anambra.

The host community (Umueri) will receive in perpetuity 3% of the profit via Corporate Social Responsibility.

The Daily Times learnt firsthand that the project will be executed under BOMT (Build, Operate, Manage and Transfer).

It was gathered also that the partners are interested in building rail lines across the State and possibly inter-connecting the South-East region with construction duration of three years.

The economic sense of the project is that is expected cause economic boom for the State, increasing revenue and facilitating private enterprises with potentials for skills transfer.

At completion, the project will have the capacity to land any known aircraft and cargo planes.

Among the in-built infrastructure is an aviation fuel dump (First in Nigeria) where aircrafts will fly in to refuel as well as an aircraft maintenance facility.

Other facilities include Passenger and VIP Terminal, Taxiways and Aprons, Fire Station, Control Building and Towers, Aviation Fuel dispensing facilities, airport cargo sheds, aviation training and services buildings, airport multilevel car parks, airport recreational areas, China wholesale depots, emergency service centers, etc.

At completion, the project will facilitate the export of agricultural produce such as Anambra Rice, Vegetables and Tubers of Yam. It would also facilitate trade and business relation between ndi Anambra and China as well as other international business destinations.

Notably, the project will unleash the untapped potential of increased trade and commerce, manufacturing, innovation, technology transfer, SME growth in Anambra State and create a whole new world of economic opportunities for the South-East.