- Buhari Approves Transaction Advisor for C’River Deep Seaport
President Muhammadu Buhari has approved a transaction advisor for the Cross River State deep seaport project in fulfillment of his earlier promise to assist the state in its quest to establish a deep seaport which will bridge the distance and foster economic activities between the northern and southern states.
As the news broke yesterday, Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State and members of the state Executive Council gave a standing ovation to President Buhari in appreciation of the approval of a transaction advisor for the Bakassi Deep Seaport project by the federal government.
The news of the approval of the transaction advisor for the multi-billion naira project was announced to the members of the state executive council at the council chambers by the governor moments after a presentation by Siemens, which is seeking to invest in the state.
It was greeted with a aloud standing ovation, which the governor said was the least the state could do in appreciation of a president that has a special love for the state.
“As the president receives a standing ovation in this executive chambers, I want to appreciate him for graciously keeping to his promise by appointing a transaction advisor for the people of Cross River for the uptake and starting of the Bakassi Deep Seaport project.
“It is a classical demonstration of the president’s commitment to his words,” an excited Ayade said.
Recalling that the president had during the groundbreaking ceremony for the project promised to assist the state in actualising it, he said the approval of the transaction advisor in just two years is record-setting.
According to him, “The people and government of Cross River State are grateful to President Buhari for helping us to achieve this feat within record speed of two years.”
He explained that the appointment of the transaction advisor for the project means that work would soon commence on site.
Ayade used the occasion to also express gratitude to the Minister of Transport, Hon. Rotimi Amaechi, who according to him, stopped at no point in putting pressure on his entire team to get the transaction advisor approved.
On what the development means for the state, he said: “For us as a state, it puts an end to the dreaming phase, now we are in reality, thank God for President Buhari and the Ministry of Transport who made it possible.
“Preliminary reclamation works will commence soon while commencement of the actual work will also start this year.”