A team of investors has applauded the investment opportunities created by the multi-billion naira Bayelsa-owned International Cargo Airport, Yenagoa.
They were also pleased with the proposed industrial park and power hub, provided by the gas-powered Niger Delta Power Holding Company, even as they pledged $200 million for projects’ completion.
The Principal Consultant, Innovative Ideas Development Services, Dr. Chike Okogwu, who led the team, also visited the abandoned 350-bed-hospital, the state water board, among others, commended the state government for building legacies with the airport and industrial park projects.
Okogwu said with the things they have seen in the state, his team and other consortium of companies were ready to partner the state government by providing funds for the completion of some of the projects.
“In terms of equity investments, these projects are going to be built in most cases out of creative investment ways that will not be a burden or cost to the state government, that’s is the whole idea.
“The private investors are going to come in with the fund to help complete some of these projects and of course, we will balance them out and know how much the government have spent, how much we have brought in and then we work it out.”
“At the moment, our projection has been surpassed and right now we are not looking at anything less than $200 million. If these industries start working, it will be the legacy of this government and millions of Nigerians are going to be employed, directly and indirectly,” Okogwu said.
The state’s Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, who took the team on tour of some ongoing projects embarked on by the Governor Seriake Dickson-led administration, disclosed that the airport will be ready for use by the end of November.
He, however, lamented that the Federal Government has abandoned the construction work on its part of the ongoing International Airport project since two years ago, but was optimistic that the airport, which is nearing 45 per cent completion will be ready by November this year.
He said the tour was aimed at showing the group of visiting investors around some of the projects with a view to striking investment partnership with the government.
“The terminal building is being handled by the Federal Government. As you are aware, the Federal Government has left site for almost two years or more. So, that’s not a project we have control over”, he said.
He said that the state government would construct a temporary terminal building, which would later be converted to an executive protocol lounge.
