Cross River Govt. assures marine, oil and gas investors
FeaturedNigeria January 26, 2016 Dianabasi Effiong
Gov. Ben Ayade
Diana Okon-Effiong, Calabar
Investors with interest in oil and gas and marine services have been assured of the Cross River Government’s resolve to partner them in providing pivotal services to the State’s deep seaport. Gov. Ben Ayade of Cross River gave the assurance at separate presentations to stakeholders in the sector in Calabar.
The presentations were by First Index Group Corporation on a public partnership with the State and First Class Bunkering/Marine Logistic Hub Marine Oil Dealers Association (Branch of NUPENG) in Calabar.
Ayade also pledged 100 per cent support and approval to ensure that investors with experience and expertise key into the state’s signature projects.
He urged them to get started and do away with excess meetings adding that Cross River is endowed with enough land by the deep seaport which construction is ongoing.
“I implore you to get started and inform me of any challenges you encounter because the moment we receive approval from the Federal Government, there is already a port,” Ayade said.
The governor, who described the host community as warm and cooperative with the contractors, said that his administration was ready to create a new Cross River. Ayade saiid that already there were numerous expression of interest from those who want to do business with the port. He said his administration had received a request from Chad and Niger Republic to build a warehouse while the super highway would cut the traveling distance between the state and the north eastern flank of the country.
First Class Bunkering/Marine Logistic Hub Marine Oil Dealers Association represented at the occasion by its National Secretary, Mr Valentine Orji, said they were prepared to partner the state in the oil and gas and marine sector.
Orji said that they were encouraged to site their headquarters in Cross River after seeing the rapid changes taking shape in the state, adding that their project will be the biggest in Africa. Orji their resolve to establish in Cross River was because the state is bounded by five states which would translate to handling of 60 per cent of importation activities as would be provided by the super highway.
He said that their main target would include diesel, training of marine seamen, engineers and inland support staff. Orji also assured that 60 per cent of its support staff would be from Cross River in the next six years.
First Index Group Corporation, a private company with interest to manufacture bicycles in Calabar, said it was also interested to redevelop the state’s obsolete tank farm and upgrade its facilities. It expressed its intention to produce lubricants so as to attract value to existing petroleum products, create employment and improve the infrastructure of the state.
Dianabasi Effiong
