“IT IS NOT YET TIME TO SAY UHURU: BUT WE WILL SOON GET THERE FAST”(PART 4) AS WE JOURNEYED BACK INTO EKIM JUNCTION--MBAK ITAM—IKOT EBOM/AFAHA ITAM—IKOT NTU-- WITH A DIVERSION TO OBONG ITAM—EMA ITAM IN ITU L.G.A WITH ANOTHER DIVERSION TO MBIABAM URUAN,EMANA URUAN, IN URUAN L.G.A---BACK TO THE ADJOINING VILLAGES OF EKIT ITAM,ODIOK ITAM,EAST AND WEST ITAM VILLAGES I SEE FLOURISHED ACRES OF LAND LYING UNTAPPED BECKONING FOR AGRICULTURAL /INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION BUT MY MAJOR INTEREST IS HOW TO SAND FILLED THE ABANDONED VALLEY LIKE MASS OF LAND ALONG THE UYO ITAM HIGHWAY DOWN TO AFAHA OKU AXIS TO BUILD THE PROPOSED IBOM INTERNATIONAL CITY, OUR CONCEPT IS TO COLLABORATE WITH KNOWN FOREIGN INVESTORS FROM EUROPE UNDER PUBLIC –PRIVATE-PARTNERSHIP ARRANGEMENT, TO TRANSFORM AKWA IBOM STATE TO INVESTORS HAVEN JUST LIKE DUBAI BY PROVIDING A WORLD CLASS INFRASTRUCTURAL FACILITIES IN AKWA IBOM STATE , THIS SINGLE PROJECT WILL ENHANCE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT IN AKWA IBOM STATE FOR INCREASE REAL ESTATE AND COMMERCIAL ACTIVITIES AT A SCALE AND SIZE HITHERTO NOT AVAILABLE, IT WILL CREATE REVENUE BASE FOR THE HOST COMMUNITIES, GOVERNMENT AND THE PRIVATE INVESTORS, ATTRACT INVESTMENT INFLOW, CREATE ATLEAST JOB OPPORTUNITIES FOR 250,000 YOUTHS ,WOMEN AND SUB-CONTRACTORS, CREATE ENABLING ENVIRONMENT FOR LOCAL AND FOREIGN BUSINESS, GOVERNMENT ACTIVITIES AND TRAFFIC DISPERSION, ETC…, IBOM MEGACITY IS AN INITIATIVE DESIGNED TO REPOSITION THE STATE AS A CITADEL OF EXCELLENCE IN THE GULF OF THE GUINEA. THIS WORTHY INITIATIVE IS DRIVEN BY OUR PULSATING PASSION FOR THE MASSIVE INFRASTRUCTURAL TRANSFORMATION OF AKWA IBOM STATE AS ONE OF THE HUB OF INTERNATIONAL TOURISM AND INVESTORS IN THE WORLD, USING UYO CAPITAL CITY AS THE DEVELOPMENT NUCLEUS. MY VISION IS TO TRANSFORM IBOM MEGACITY INTO A WORLD CLASS CITY, INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNISED FOR EXCELLENCE AND PREFERRED DESTINATION FOR INVESTORS AND TOURISTS; ABOVE ALL, DESIGN TO RE-BRAND, REMARKET AND REPOSITION THE UYO CAPITAL CITY FOR GLOBAL COMPETITIVE AND MY MISSION IS TO BUILD A WELL – PLANNED CITY, THROUGH THE IMPLEMENTATION AND FACILITATE THE RAPID IMPLEMENTATION AND FACILITATE THE RAPID PROVISION OF THE FIRST RATE INFRASTRUCTURE AND DELIVERY OF QUALITY SERVICES TO ENHANCE THE STANDARD OF LIVING AND WELL BEING OF THE PEOPLE WITH THE PRIMARY OBJECTIVES OF THE PROJECT IS TO PROVIDE WORLD CLASS INFRASTRUCTURAL FACILITIES IN THE AREA; TO EASE THE ACUTE SHORTAGE OF HOUSING IN UYO CAPITAL CITY, AND TO ALSO PROVIDE INTERNATIONAL INVESTORS WITH EXCLUSIVE, SERENE AND VIRILE CORPORATE ENVIRONMENT; AND HIGH BROW ESTATE IN THE DEVELOPED AREA WITH INTERNATIONAL STANDARD FACILITIES; IT WILL ALSO COMPLEMENT THE BASIC FACILITIES IN THE WHOLE OF AKWA IBOM STATE AND NIGERIA AS A MEANS OF ACHIEVING SOCIO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOR THE AREA; CREATE A SOLID REVENUE BASE FOR BOTH THE INVESTORS, PROMOTERS AND FINALLY; CREATE EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR BOTH THE HOST COMMUNITY AND THE INVESTORS. WE INTENDS TO WORK CLOSELY WITH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTOR INVESTORS IN PROMOTING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE IBOM MEGACITY, AN ULTRA MODERN INTERNATIONAL MEGA CITY (A NEW TOWN DEVELOPMENT WITH SHELTER, SITE AND SERVICED PLOTS OF LAND.) THE PROJECT…THE PROPOSED IBOM MEGACITY IS A FLAGSHIP AND MODEL OF THE DEVELOPMENT PARADIGM WHICH WE INTEND TO PROVIDE QUALITY ACCOMMODATION WITH STATE OF THE ART SERVICES AND FACILITIES OF AT LEAST 5000 HECTARES OF LAND AND SECURITY INFRASTRUCTURE, TO CREATE 25,000 UNITS OF RESIDENTIAL HOUSES WITH SERVICE PLOTS, WHILE THE PRIVATE SECTOR, THROUGH CONCESSIONING WILL DESIGN, FINANCE, BUILD AND MANAGE THE RESIDENTIAL COMMERCIAL AND UTILITY INFRASTRUCTURE FACILITIES IN THE CITY. IT WILL INVOLVE THE (MAPPING , DESIGNING, STRUCTURING THE PRIVATE FINANCING AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE PROPOSED 5000 HECTARES OF LAND OF VARIOUS SIZES) IN UYO CAPITAL CITY CATCHMENTS AREA; A MULTI-PURPOSE MEGACITY WITH RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL PLOTS. ARCHITECTURAL DESIGNS WITH FEATURES …. THE KEY ATTRACTION IN IBOM MEGACITY… THE TARGET IS TO CREATE AN ESTATE OF AT LEAST 25,000 UNITS OF RESIDENTIAL HOUSES OF VARIOUS RANGE WITH OVER 10,000 SERVICED PLOTS AND WILL ALSO BE PROVIDED WITH THE FOLLOWING FACILITIES. EFFICIENT ROAD NETWORKS AND STORM LINE DRAINS, PRESSURIZE WATER SUPPLY AND WATER WORKS. CENTRALIZED, AUTOMATED SECURITY (CCTV)/ ACCESS CONTROL AND SOLAR CONTROLLED STREET LIGHT. 10MV CAPACITY AS PROPELLED INDEPENDENT POWER PLANT SUPPORTED WITH GOOD TRANSFORMER NETWORK AND AN INJECTION POWER STATION, HELIPAD TO CARRY INTERNATIONAL INVESTOR, BUSINESSMEN AND OIL WORKERS TO THE AIRPORT, OR OTHER AREAS OF AKWA IBOM STATE, IN CASE OF TRAFFIC JAM IN THE UYO MAIN CITY IN THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE ,HIGH SPEED INTERNET ACCESS, BROADBAND AND TELECOMMUNICATION EXCHANGE, CENTRALIZED CONTROLLED POLICE STATION/SECURITY POST, FIRE STATIONS,CENTRAL SEWAGE AND WASTE SERVICE DISPOSAL SYSTEM, RECREATIONAL PARKS AND GARDENS MEGA FILLING STATIONS,LIGHT INDUSTRIAL SERVICE PLOTS WITH CORNERS SHOPS AND SHOPPING MALLS,SCHOOLS AND ICTS DEVELOPMENT CENTRE, A PRIVATE CABLE TV NETWORK , A PLACE OF WORSHIP AND POSTAL AGENCY,MEDICAL BAY (HOSPITAL/CLINIC/DISPENSARY/PHARMACY/LABORATORY/AMBULANCE.,BANKING CENTRES AND ATM POINTS LAUNDRY/DRY CLEANING UNITS LOCAL MARKET AND PLAYING FIELD, WORLD CLASS ENTERTAINMENT COMPLEX, FITNESS CLUB; LAWN TENNIS COURT, BASKETBALL, SQUASH COURT AND SWIMMING POOL,SPACIOUS OFFICE SUITES, PRIVATE AREA TRANSPORTATION SERVICES,INTERNATIONAL STANDARD HOTEL AND WELL PLANNED LANDSCAPING GREENISH TERRAIN … OPPORTUNITIES & BENEFITS UNDER THE P.P.P INITIATIVE… THE IBOM MEGACITY IS AN INVESTMENT LED POVERTY – REDUCING EMPLOYMENT STRATEGY THAT WILL AGGRESSIVELY REJUVENATE THE ECONOMY OF AKWA IBOM STATE AND THE ENTIRE COUNTRY AND IN ADDITION TO REVENUE FACILITIES FOR SOCIO- ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF THE AKWA IBOM STATE AS SEED FOR NEW GROWTH BY AIMING AT A PURPOSEFUL INTEGRATION OF THE “OLD UYO AND NEW UYO CAPITAL CITY” WITH A VIEW TO UPGRADING ITS SURROUNDINGS AND IMPROVE ON THE PHYSICAL FABRIC OF THE STATE. FURTHERMORE, BOOST SHIFT THE ECONOMIC FRONTIERS EMPOWER AND RE STRENGTH THE SUPER STRUCTURAL ECONOMIC BASE OF AKWA IBOM STATE, AS THE IBOM MEGACITY WILL BRING A MULTIPLIER EFFECTS ON THE ECONOMY OF THE STATE, REDUCE IMPOVERISHMENT IN THE AREA AND CREATE SOURCE OF LIVELIHOOD FOR HE YOUTHS, AS OPPORTUNITIES ARE ABOUND IN AREAS OF; HOUSING AND RESIDENTIAL ESTATE, ROAD CONSTRUCTION,DRAINAGE AND STORM WATER CHANNELS,CIVIL WORKS COMMERCIAL/OFFICE COMPLEXES,LIGHT INDUSTRIES AND INFRASTRUCTURE POWER GENERATION AND DISTRIBUTION,WATER SUPPLY AND RETICULATION BULK SEWER AND SEWAGE TREATMENT URBAN TRANSPORT SYSTEM ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT THEREFORE, IT COVERS RESIDENTIAL HOUSING ESTATES, INDUSTRIAL AND COMMERCIAL AREAS, BUSINESS DISTRICTS, SHOPPING MALLS, AS WELL AS RECREATIONAL AND HOSPITALITY COMPLEXES. I)THE IBOM MEGACITY WILL FURTHER BRING THE FOLLOWING BENEFITS TO THE ECONOMY STATUS OF AKWA IBOM STATE OF NIGERIA WILL BE ABLE TO REALIZE COST SAVING FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THOSE CAPITAL PROJECT AS WELL AS THE OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF SERVICES. II)THIS PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP (P-P-P) WILL INTRODUCE INNOVATION IN HOW SERVICE DELIVERY IS ORGANIZED AND CARRIED, WITH NEW TECHNOLOGIES AND ECONOMIES OF SCALE AT A REDUCED COST WITH IMPROVE QUALITY AND LEVEL OF SERVICES. III)IT WILL ENHANCE REVENUES BY SETTING USER FEES THAT REFLECT THE TRUE COST OF DELIVERING THIS PARTICULAR SERVICE AND INTRODUCE MORE INNOVATING REVENUE SOURCES THAT WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE UNDER PUBLIC SERVICE MANAGEMENT OF HOUSING ESTATES. IV)IT WILL GUARANTEE EFFICIENT IMPLEMENTATION THROUGH COMBINING VARIOUS ACTIVITIES SUCH AS DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION AND THROUGH MORE FLEXIBLE CONTRACTING AND PROCUREMENT, QUICKER APPROVALS FOR CAPITAL FINANCING A MORE EFFICIENT DECISION MAKING. V)IT HELP IN STIMULATING THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND CONTRIBUTE THE INCREASE EMPLOYMENT AND ECONOMIC GROWTH. VI)IT WILL REPOSITION AND STRUCTURALLY EMPOWER THE ENTIRE SECTORS OF AKWA IBOM STATE ECONOMY AS IT WILL BE A MAJOR CATALYSTS IN BOOSTING AND ECONOMY. VII)IT WILL CREATE MASSIVE EMPLOYMENT OUTLETS AND INCOME EARNING OPPORTUNITIES WHICH WILL CREATE A MORE HARMONIOUS CLIMATE WITHIN WHICH STRUCTURAL CAUSES OF TENSIONS AND YOUTHS RESTIVENESS WILL BE ADDRESSED. VIII)IT WILL CREATE SUSTAINABLE WEALTH THAT WILL ADEQUATELY EMPOWER AND ADVANCE OTHER SUB SECTOR OF THE AKWA IBOM STATE ECONOMY AND BOOST THE STATE’S ECONOMY BEYOND THE PRESENT LEVEL. IX)ABOVE ALL, IT IS THE MOST REALISTIC APPROACH TO ACHIEVE POVERTY ELIMINATION/REDUCTION AS THE PROJECT WILL CREATE EMPLOYMENT FOR OVER 50,000 IDLE YOUTHS IN THE AREAS OF CONSTRUCTION; SUPPLIES AND OTHER SERVICES AT THE SITES; FINANCIALLY EMPOWER THE CONTRACTORS; THE HOST COMMUNITIES AND SUPPLIERS OF BUILDING MATERIALS TO FURTHER BOOST THEIR PER CAPITA INCOME. … VIABILITY…CONSIDERING THE PECULIARITIES OF THE IBOM MEGA CITY; THE READY CAPTIVE MARKET, DRAWN FROM THE FACT THE AKWA IBOM STATE IS PRESENTLY THE LARGEST PRODUCER OF OIL AND GAS IN AFRICA AND THE MOST INVESTORS FRIENDLY STATE IN THE NIGER DELTA REGION AND NIGERIA. AGAIN, THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT GAP BETWEEN THE DEMAND FOR AND THE AVAILABILITY OF GOOD INFRASTRUCTURES TO ACCOMMODATE THE POPULATION INCREASE IN UYO CAPITAL CITY, AKWA IBOM STATE. AND ALSO THERE IS AN INELASTIC HIGH DEMAND FOR HOUSES IN UYO CAPITAL CITY CAUSED BY THE GROWTH IN THE STANDARD OF LIVING, INCREASE IN THE POPULATION; INDUSTRIAL AND BUSINESS ACTIVITIES AND WHICH TODAY, IS FURTHER HEIGHTENED BY THE DESIRE OF THE OVERSEAS BASED AKWA IBOMITES WHO PREFERS BUYING AN ALREADY COMPLETED HOUSES THAN BUILDING FROM THE FOUNDATION TO PROTECT THEIR INVESTMENT; THE PROPOSED RELOCATION OF EXXON-MOBIL PRODUCING UNLIMITED. HEADQUARTERS FROM LAGOS TO AKWA IBOM STATE WHICH IS ITS OPERATIONAL BASE, THE AMAKPE REFINERY IN EKET, ALUMINIUM SMELTING COMPANY IN IKOT ABASI, THE ENTRANCE OF CENTRICA ENERGY INTO MBO, AKWA IBOM STATE, THE COMMISSIONING OF THE IBOM INDEPENDENT POWER SUPPLY IN THE STATE WHICH GUARANTEES AND ENCOURAGES INFLUX OF INVESTORS, THE RELOCATION OF CONSTRUCTION GIANTS LIKE JULIUS BERGER PLC, SETRACO, GITTO CONSTRUCCION LTD, SOLEH BONEH LTD, MOTHERCAT CONSTRUCTION COMPANY AND ETC, THE BANKS, TELECOMMUNICATION COMPANIES, OIL SERVICING COMPANIES AND THE EXPECTED POPULATION BOOM THAT WILL BE ATTRACTED BY THE ON-GOING OIL AND GAS EXPORT PROCESSING ZONE IN IBAKA- MBO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, THE NEW INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT IN AKWA IBOM STATE, THE TROPICANA GALLERIA IN UYO UNDER CONSTRUCTION, AND THE RECENT CREATION OF THE MINISTRY OF NIGER DELTA AFFAIRS WILL FURTHER JETTISON THE HIGH DEMAND FOR THIS ULTRA MODERN MEGACITY IN UYO, AKWA IBOM STATE, THE MASSIVE INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT FROM BOTH THE PRIVATE IS A KEY MAJOR OIL PRODUCING STATE IN NIGERIA. THE GAP IS EXPECTED TO INCREASE DAILY DUE TO THE URBAN-RURAL MIGRATION AND EMPOWERMENT OF PRIVATE INDIVIDUALS ACCESSED BY THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NIGER DELTA REGION MASTER PLAN, AND ATTEMPT BY PRIVATE INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES TO ACQUIRE NEW HOUSES IN RESERVE AREAS WITH STANDARD FACILITIES AND GOOD INFRASTRUCTURE FACILITIES; BY OUT ARRANGEMENT, WE INTEND TO SELL A LARGE PORTION OF THE SERVICED PLOTS AND HOUSES TO THE MAJOR OIL COMPANIES SERVICING COMPANIES, BANKS, TELECOMMUNICATION FIRMS AND OTHER CORPORATE BODIES FOR THEIR STAFF QUARTERS. IT IS THEREFORE CLEAR THAT THE MARKET WILL READILY ABSORB THE OUTPUT OF THE PROPOSED IBOM MEGA CITY. ITS FEASIBILITY, VIABILITY AND COMPETITIVENESS ARE GLARING ONE HAS NO DOUBT THAT INVESTORS AND BANKS WILL FIND THIS PROJECT ATTRACTIVE AND SECURED.
Posted on: Mon, 26 Aug 2013 19:16:08 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015