Readers of Naira Insider know of the shake, grin, grab methods used by governors to generate cash.

Governor Obiano of Anambra has announced something that might arouse suspicions in an election year no less. We pray that there is nothing untoward.

He announced a $2bn investment in an airport and industrial complex in Anambra.

This is being done in a joint venture between the state, an oil company and a Chinese company.

These factors alone should raise eyebrows.

Firstly, $2bn in Anambra at this stage of its economic development - it seems unlikely that that sum will ever be invested.

Experience shows many of our state airports with grandiose plans are little more than a dilapidated airstrip and a shed for waiting passengers.

Anambra is in need of an airport (flying to Asaba and then driving to Awka is hardly optimal) but at what cost?

Secondly, the partners.

Chinese funding sources are flowing like water at the minute as the Chinese government ensures everyone is endeared to them.

One has to assume that the Chinese investors are sourcing Chinese funds.

If the funding even comes close to $1bn, that is a lot of full trouser pockets with even some spare to build an airstrip and a few buildings.

Thirdly, the tried and tested joint venture model.

The money can be shared around with some degree of impunity.

Let’s hope this is a bona fide project but the optics are not good currently.

Let’s see what is there on the ground in 3 years.

What undoubtedly will be there in 3 years is the indebtedness of the fine citizens of Anambra to the Chinese to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars.

http://nairainsider.com/commentary/governor-obiano-shake-grin-grab-airport-joint-investment-method/

Another jealous wawa/abakaliki buffon on d loose. First of all, the $2bln is not coming from d state coffers but from the private investors partners ie Elite International and Orient Petroleum, as d project is a PPP on a BOT(Build, Operate and Transfer) contract. Second, if your wawa/abakaliki skull can realise that 2 almajiri states of Gombe and Jigawa have already built and operate their own airports, then d viability of this Anambra airport should be d least of your worries, also considering d fact that it is Anambra people, traders and businessmen that feed d patronage of Asaba airport and d overrated one in Enugu. Anambra people, being patrotic and proud of our state, will naturally switch patronage to d new international airport in Umueri once it is completed. Enugu airport is too far away, so no anambra businessman will waste his time going there again, except those old politicians who live there. D bottlenecks and hold-ups associated with crossing d Niger bridge, will also discourage usage of asaba

The $2b will likely include cost of construction of access road to the airport , cost of constructing Access pipes from orient refinery , the cost of storage facilities for the agricultural products which will be exported from the airport, cargo handling facilities and equipment.

The cost of airport infrastrutral development , buildings , hotels , power supply and generation , water supply and production , waste management etc.

Every reasonable person should support this project as no Niger Delta money is going into it and no money from the federation account will be used in it . if you have travelled outside Nigeria you would have realised that Nigeria has no Airport.

Anambra people should up the ante and build a world class International Airport comparable to what is obtainable in Dubai and South Africa, if Mbakwe did something siimilar under NPP in imo state , Obiano ought to learn adn do something more spectacular and bigger as Mbakwe's Airport has been a life saver for igbos . possibly this Anambra Airport will open up igbo land to the outside world.

Every south East state should no listen to Nay sayers but plan ahead and build world class Airports for exports , if Mbakwe got it right 36 years ago no body will get it wrong today.

Op you are not making sense, contradicting yourself and assessment with each line typed.

Igbo's dont fall for chino's games, That fool is one of the Igala indigenes in Anambra Igbo's should not fall for his antics

nonsobaba:
Another jealous wawa/abakaliki buffon on d loose. First of all, the $2bln is not coming from d state coffers but from the private investors partners ie Elite International and Orient Petroleum, as d project is a PPP on a BOT(Build, Operate and Transfer) contract. Second, if your wawa/abakaliki skull can realise that 2 almajiri states of Gombe and Jigawa have already built and operate their own airports, then d viability of this Anambra airport should be d least of your worries, also considering d fact that it is Anambra people, traders and businessmen that feed d patronage of Asaba airport and d overrated one in Enugu. Anambra people, being patrotic and proud of our state, will naturally switch patronage to d new international airport in Umueri once it is completed. Enugu airport is too far away, so no anambra businessman will waste his time going there again, except those old politicians who live there. D bottlenecks and hold-ups associated with crossing d Niger bridge, will also discourage usage of asaba

So instead of starting with information, your strategy is to start with abuse. All the writer is saying that based on experience in Nigeria, these things never come to fruition so he's taking a wait and see approach.

Even if Obiano delivers in this deal, why should we be impressed that someone performed their job. That's the problem in the country. We employ someone to do a job, do it and get on with it. Instead, we are impressed that they did their job; a job that we the people are paying them for.

Raise your standards.