Akeredolu Urges Establishment Of Sea Port In Ondo
Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State has urged the Federal Government to approve license for the establishment of a Deep Sea Mining Port in the Ilaje Free Trade Zone of the state.
The governor spoke at the Second National Council on Niger Delta (NCND) meeting, held in Akure, the state capital.
Akeredolu said if established, the Deep Sea Mining Port would serve as a veritable potential to turn the Niger Delta Region of Ondo State into a hub of investment opportunities.
He said, the mining port, if approved, does not need any dredging and can allow passage of bigger vessels due to the high depth of the coastline.
The governor further informed that the state coastline which is about 120km is the longest and the deepest in Nigeria and West Africa Sub- Region.
According to him, it will assist, greatly, the quest to provide possibilities for infrastructural development of not only the area, but also the state and country at large.
“ It will add value to agriculture and solid minerals development as evacuation of agricultural products and solid minerals like bitumen can be easily done without stress.
“The establishment of the mining port will also create employment opportunities for the teeming unemployed youths, improve the socio-economic stance of the people of the State and stimulate the development of micro and small/medium enterprises. Countries with smaller coastlines, such as Singapore, depend almost entirely on their seaports for sustenance,” the governor stated.