From Maurice Okafor,Enugu.
The Nigerian Shippers’ Council[NSC] has made a passionate appeal to the Enugu state Governor Barr. Peter Mbah to support the establishment of ;Vehicle Transit Area'[VTA] at Obollo Affor, in Udenu council area of the state, stating it will boost socio economic development of Enugu state, the South East zone and beyond.
The Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer[ES/CEO] of Nigerian Shippers’ Council ,Barr. Ukeyima Pius Akuta made the plea in his address delivered at a one day enlightenment seminar on ‘Vehicle Transit Area [VTA] and Trade facilitation in the South East corridor’, held yesterday at Oaklands hotel, Enugu.
A Vehicle Transit Area [VTA] is a public rest area usually located off the highway which provides temporary rest location for truck drivers, so as to ensure safety and security of cargoes and haulage vehicles while on transit.
He said the establishment of VTA at Obollo Affor stems on the fact that Obollo Affor is strategically located not just as a hub for commercial and industrial activities within it’s vicinity but also will serve as a catalyst for enhancing development of Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Imo and Rivers state, thus enhancing the overall maritime infrastructure in the region
In his address read by the zonal director, Mrs Ify Okolie, NSC ES/CEO Barr Akuta said the establishment of VTA at Obollo Affor will create at least direct 3,000 job opportunities, accelerate economic growth, productivity and competition, among other benefits’
His words, ‘Your Excellency sir ,It is our prayer that your esteemed administration supports the realization of this laudable project at Obollo Affor, Enugu state, bearing in mind the socio economic benefits of this laudable project, so that it becomes a dream come true for Ndi Enugu state and Nigeria in general’.
He affirmed that Nigerian Shippers Council and the federal ministry of maritime and blue economy are resolute in creating an enabling environment for the nation wide actualization and optimal functioning of the Vehicle Transit Area projects in the country.
In a lecture titled, ’Socio Economic impacts of Vehicle Transit Areas,delivederd[U1] by Prof.Ben Nwosu,of Institute of Development Studies, University of Nigeria,Enugu campus, he said that research findings dated January 2018 proved that Obollo Affor has high transit route with over 1,931 trucks passing through it on daily basis and the estimation between 2024 and 2025 is put at about 4,000 heavy vehicles on daily basis.
He said it will amount to an economic boom for Enugu state if at least 50 percent of those trucks stops at Vehicle Transit Area[VTA] established at Obollo Affor.
Professor Ben Nwosu disclosed that Obollo Affor is considered by Nigerian Shippers’ Council[NSC] as the first VTA pilot project ,followed by Lokoja in Kogi state. He called on Governor Peter Mbah to consider investing in the VTA project at Obollo Affor. However, he advocated that for Public private partnership[PPP] as the best strategy of turning the dream into a reality.
reality.
