The Federal Government, through the Ministry of Transport has commended Cross River State Government for following due process in the appointment of a financial transaction advisor for the Bakassi Deep seaport project, describing it as transparent.
Secretary of Bakassi Deep Seaport Steering and Implementation Committee set up by the Federal Ministry of Transport for the project, Yusuf Saeed, disclosed this at the signing of transaction advisory service contract between Cross River State and Feedback Infrastructure Service in Calabar, yesterday.
Saeed who represented the chairman of the committee, Sani Galadanchi, came clear in this words, “I want to affirm that this is the first time the appointment of a transaction adviser went through due process, stage by stage without any form of interference by the governor or his representatives.”
Also speaking, representative of the Minister of Finance and member of the committee, Biodum Alibiloye as well as the representative of Nigerian Ports Authority, Ahmed Wonka described the selection process as transparent.
Team Leader, Feedback Infrastructure Nig, Onuoha Nnachi, an engineer, applauded the ingenuity and vision of Governor Ben Ayade in conceptualising the project saying “From our own assessment of this project, you are opening the impossibility that will go beyond oil. In today’s world, you are taking a step contrary to others who rely on natural blessing but you rely on God’s intelligence.”
On the competence of the adviser in handling the project, said to be the biggest in Africa, the team leader assured that “Feedback Consortium has the best that you can access in the world today. I dare say that there is no port construction in recent times that we have not been part of. Let me assure you and the good people of the state that we are in it and success is guarantee.”
Responding, Cross River State Governor, Ben Ayade expressed excitement at the exercise and put it on record that “my gratitude is endless for President Buhari who understood the value of the dream and the depth of this vision. Who knew the attendant infinite transposition that accompanies this project”.
Continuing, he said: “Let me also most sincerely thank the Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi and the entire team including the Ministry of Finance and the Nigerian Port Authority for their support, uprightness, commitment and prompt reaction to issues bordering on this project. We‘ve had eight ministerial approvals since we started this process which attest to the fact that the process of getting the advisor was indeed very rigorous.
He urged the advisor to repose confidence in Nigerians and indeed the state by ensuring timely execution of the project saying, “So having won the job on merit, it is naturally expected that you will provide your very best in terms of services because you are the example that shows that there is a future for this country.”
The governor also enthused: “That we can allow this level of transparency is a plus to President Buhari who is the number one when it comes to fighting corruption in this country and it goes to show that this system will surely work.
