By Egufe Yafugborhi

UYO – HOUSING investor, My-ACE China, has pointed to emerging economic boom through investment and development cooperation among neighboring Abia, Akwa Ibom and Rivers states, tasking stakeholders to urgently conceive and implement joint strategies at actualising the concept.

China, real estate entrepreneur and Managing Director, Housing and Construction Mayor Limited, expressed the concern in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state capital as her rounded of a weeklong business trip from his Rivers base.

He told newsmen, “About this economic triangle, the only force that can wrest economic power from Lagos is Akwa Ibom, Abia, and Rivers states axis or corridor. 

“This corridor, together contains more than Lagos has, if they can be interconnected with smooth roads, ports with their blue potentials unlocked. They will not only wrest power from Lagos but would be far more ”

The investor, also know as Mayor of Housing, who is behind ongoing Alesa Highlands Green Smart City, Eleme near Port Harcourt, noted that Aba (Abia State) which provides the biggest fabrication capacity in West Africa is positioned to supply goods to the Gulf of Guinea.

“Port Harcourt (Rivers) provides access to the Gulf of Guinea for off-taking Aba products, and Uyo (Akwa Ibom) provides deep sea port at Ibaka and international airport facilities as well as forest reserves for massive agro-economy.

“With ports in Rivers, deep seaport in Akwa Ibom and international airports in both Rivers and Akwa Ibom, Aba (Abia commerce nerve) can focus on adequate power supply and fabrication to supply a new booming market around the intended economic triangle.”

He said when operationalised, the idea would birth new jobs, attract investors and manufacturers as Nigeria would thus have two major trade nodes, Lagos and Port Harcourt.

China reasoned that all governors of these states need do is ensure enabling environment with provision of  stable power, good roads, effective security and ease of doing business enthroned in the South-South and South East to become the biggest economic nerve in the near future. 

“They (the three states) can only realise this working together, through, collaboration. One cannot do alone. A triad of the three will create it through seamless interconnection, ports, industrial parks, etc. New wealth would be created, internally generated revenue spiralled”, he added.