Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has expressed the readiness of his administration to partner with private investors to build the proposed Abia Stadium City to create a better future and boost the economy of the state.
Otti spoke on Tuesday when he received a team of development partners led by the Managing Director, Irish Development Group, Mr. Nigel Neely, who came to present a master plan of the proposed Abia Stadium City in his office.
The governor said his administration has been on the stadium project and is looking for those who not only have the capacity to deliver, but are willing to invest in Abia.
He added that he believes with private sector involvement, such a gigantic project could be achieved while its sustainability would be guaranteed, even beyond his tenure in office.
He said, “We’ve been on this stadium project, and we’ve pushed very hard because we know what we want to achieve. Listening to you, you clearly know what to do.
“So, just looking at these highlights (the presentation), I know that the devil is in the details. It looks like something that can work. We have it out already, and I’m happy you have even gone ahead to inspect the site.
“So now, if it’s largely private sector-held, then even when I’m not here tomorrow, they will run well. because it also has to be sustainable.”
The governor, who stressed that sustainability is key, said the government could have 10 per cent or 20 per cent maximum investment and allow the rest to be owned by private investors.
He said that what is needed is for both the government and the development partner’s team to sit and work out the details of the project.
“I think we’re now going to sit down and drill down the real issues around the details. Like, they said, the devil may be in the details.
“Where do we find the money? How much is it going to cost? In what tranches are they going to come? And, who is going to own it? As a government, we want to maintain minimum share holding, “Otti stated.
He appreciated the preliminary studies and spoke of the merits of the site.
“As you were making your presentation, I said, yes, that is exactly my impression about the place. We had a lot of options but we chose that place. One, it’s not inside, it’s not too far. And then, the airport that we have just started, is also not too far.
“And those are some of the attractions. You want to get to a stadium, or a stadium village, because, there’s a stadium. So you have good accommodation, you can do your shopping, you can go on holiday.
The governor, who stressed that sustainability is key, said the government could have 10 per cent or 20 per cent maximum investment and allow the rest to be owned by private investors.
He said that what is needed is for both the government and the development partner’s team to sit and work out the details of the project.
“I think we’re now going to sit down and drill down the real issues around the details. Like, they said, the devil may be in the details.
“Where do we find the money? How much is it going to cost? In what tranches are they going to come? And, who is going to own it? As a government, we want to maintain minimum share holding, “Otti stated.
He appreciated the preliminary studies and spoke of the merits of the site.
“As you were making your presentation, I said, yes, that is exactly my impression about the place. We had a lot of options but we chose that place. One, it’s not inside, it’s not too far. And then, the airport that we have just started, is also not too far.
“And those are some of the attractions. You want to get to a stadium, or a stadium village, because, there’s a stadium. So you have good accommodation, you can do your shopping, you can go on holiday.
1 Comments
Nice one able governor 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾
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