Determined to remove Abia State from its landlocked status and enhance economic and commercial activities the state government has concluded plans to build its own seaport.
The decision to build the seaport which is to be located at Obuaku in Ukwa West local government is coming on the heels of government’s announcement that plans are in top gear to build an airport in the state.
Commissioner for information and strategy, Dr Eze Chikamnayo who disclosed this after the last state executive council meeting in Umuahia said the two projects would be executed simultaneously.
The sea port which will be the first in the South East geopolitical zone would help importers and exporter from the state carry out their business with more ease and reduce the distance they have to travel to clear their goods.
The sea port he added would also create employment for the teeming unemployed youths in the state both skilled and unskilled.
Defending the location of the seaport, he said that unlike Port Harcourt Sea port which is about 10 miles from Port Harcourt City, the proposed Obuaku seaport is less than five miles to the Atlantic Ocean.
The commissioner said that already a committee has been set up to see to the development of the seaport which will see Governor Theodore Orji emerging as the first governor in the South East to build a sea port.
On the air port project, he said that an appropriate site had been acquired cutting across Ikwuano and Umuahia south local government areas covering an area of 24 square miles.