Abia State Governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, has charged the Implementation Committee on Inland Dry Port sited at Ntigha, Isiala Ngwa North Local Government Area, to fast track realisation of the project.

Ikpeazu, while inaugurating the committee at the Government House, Umuahia, said the exercise has become expedient as his administration was vigorously pursuing opening up trade and commerce which is one of the pillars expected to drive development in the state.

The global tumbling of oil price has tasked every right thinking government to evolve ingenious ways to generate revenue, the governor said, adding that it was important for his government to think seriously about realising the dry port project.

He noted that members of the committee possess the capacity and have proven track record to carry out the task entrusted on them, but, he however, requested others who were not appointed into the committee to make contributions that would help drive the project.

The Governor called on all arms of government to support the committee members to succeed since Abia state will be the ultimate beneficiary of the project.

Responding on behalf of the other members, the chairman of the committee, Arch Dan Nwankwo, promised that they would do their best to ensure that the project was realised soon.

Nwankwo explained that the project was for the South East zone but sited in Abia State.

He listed many benefits of the dry port to include creating employment opportunities for youth and stimulating a new core of industrial growth at Ntigha in partnership with trusted foreign investors.

According to him, the first phase of the project comprises the dry port and container terminal as well as the special economic/industrial zone.

He stressed that the dry port and container terminal in particular will be of great impact and benefit to the people of the South East as major importers in Nigeria.

He commended the Governor for his desire to realise the project and appealed for his unrelenting encouragement to ensure its full accomplishment.

It would be recalled that the ground breaking ceremony of the Abia Inland Container Depot was first performed in 2007 and another performed under ex-Governor Theodore Orji.

It was concessioned to East Gate Inland Container Terminal to build the port facility but stakeholders said late last year that the inability of the Abia State Government to pay its 20 per cent counterpart funding was responsible for the delay in the take off of the dry port.

•Photo shows Governor Ikpeazu.