Come with your funds, we will give you concessions, Otti tells investors
*As firm showcase designs of proposed 40, 000 capacity stadium for Abia
From Boniface Okoro, Umuahia
Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has assured that the state would give concessions to investors who come with funds.
The Governor, while receiving in audience, a delegation of FUNGTAI Engineering Company Nig. LTD, a firm which is planning to build a 40, 000-capaity stadium in the state, said he prefers dealing with partners who have funds in their kitty.
“My preference is to deal with a partner that comes up with the funding and then we can now look at the concession agreement. And, once you come up with that kind of proposal, you have put yourselves ahead of others. Even in housing estate, we have something like that,” the Governor said, adding, “our contribution is always land which sometimes comes up to 20 – 30% of gross.”
He urged the company to look beyond sports infrastructure and explore other sectors like Real Estate where the state is planning to develop smart cities and high-end estates for Abians in Diaspora, professionals within and outside the state.
Earlier in his speech, the firm’s Director of Projects, Dr. Cyril Christopher, who led the delegation on the business visit to the Governor, said that they had come to present a proposal for the building of a 40, 000-FIFA standard capacity stadium with a foundation expandable to 80, 000 capacity.
Dr. Cyril Christopher also told the Governor that their firm was interested in the rebuilding the Nsulu Games Village, explaining that Nigerians own 70 percent of the company which has offices across the globe.
According to the Director of Projects, the company was currently developing the multi-billion dollar new FESTAC city, and thanked the Governor for giving them the opportunity to showcase their company and proposed projects.
The Project Manager, Al Jar Makani Bassam, presented the conceptual designs of the stadium and sports complex they intend to build in the State to the Governor and members of his team.
Other members of the company’s delegation include the Power and Electrical Manager, David Guo; the Project Assistant, Alhajali Wasseem and the Legal Services Director, Sandra Okpuno.
Governor Otti was joined in the meeting by the Honourable Commissioner for Sports and Youth Development, Mr. Nwaobilor Nwadimma Ananaba, the Principal Secretary to the Governor and Chief Strategy Officer to the Government, Mr. Chinenye Mba-Uzukwu and the Technical Assistant to the Governor, Dr. Charles Egonye.
