Eno assures completion of Ibom Deep Seaport as technical committee presents report
Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to the realisation of the Ibom Deep Seaport project, expressing confidence that the long-awaited initiative will finally materialise.
Eno made the assurance on Wednesday at the Government House, Uyo, during the presentation of the project’s feasibility report by the Technical Committee. He commended the committee for its detailed and professional work, describing the report as a significant step towards actualising a project that has been in development for over two decades.
Presenting the report, committee chairman Mfon Usoro, a maritime lawyer and former NIMASA Director-General, said the seaport is designed to drive economic growth, expand Nigeria’s port capacity, and improve ease of doing business through a Public-Private Partnership model.
She added that the project would accelerate industrialisation by integrating with the Ibom Industrial City and, as a Free Trade Zone, is expected to become a major transshipment hub in the region.
Governor Eno paid tribute to past leaders who contributed to the project’s foundation and cautioned against politicising it, noting that deep seaport development requires patience and sustained effort.
“We decided to bring everyone together and move all aspects of the deep seaport project to the front burner to enable us aggregate exactly what we need to do with timelines. If we succeed with this project, Akwa Ibom wins,” he said.
The governor highlighted steps taken by his administration, including funding feasibility studies, preparing investor documents, constructing access roads, and conducting geophysical and geotechnical assessments to attract investors.
Usoro noted that key milestones achieved include financial modelling, due diligence, and the selection of preferred bidders through a transparent international process. She added that the project will commence with critical infrastructure such as container terminals and breakwaters, while urging patience, pointing out that similar projects globally often take years to complete.
