By: Isaac Job, Uyo
Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno has said that investors are needed for Ibom Deepsea project as avenue to revive Blue economy in the state .
The state government had declared that Ibom Deep Sea project is one of the major investments in the Arise Agenda of the present administration.
However, citizens of the state have been asking why the project seems to have been abandoned especially as the completion of the port was the reason Governor Eno stated publicly when he defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) last year .
Speaking during a 3-Day Niger Delta Blue Economy Investment summit on the theme : Harnessing Blue Economy Potentials for Sustainable Development In the Niger Delta ” held at Four Points by Sheraton Hotel in Ikot Ekpene, Eno explained that the state was earnestly seeking for investors for the project to add value and Kickstart blue economy.
Eno who was represented by the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Uko Udom (SAN) explained that all the regulations, certifications, and approvals required for the project have been secured while link roads leading to the seaport were already under construction.
Ibom Deep Seaport is not going to be a white elephant project. I can assure you the work has gone very far. We’ve done all the regulatory imperatives that are on the ground.
“We have all the certifications,
all the approvals required and the roads under construction to lead to the seaport are under construction. This is the most natural seaport you can ever have in Nigeria. There’ll be no dredging of any sort.
Originally, the Nigerian Navy wanted to use it as the headquarters of the Eastern Naval Command, but I don’t know what happened.
“We thank God they didn’t use it, because it will serve the entire region more as a deep seaport to direct traffic away from the congestion of Lagos and deal with Central African Republic as well as the hinterlands of Nigeria.
Eno disclosed that the project remains an investment that must be executed with the assistance of foreign investors
” It’s an investment that can only happen if we attract foreign investment in the course of building deep Seaport.
“Not only Nigeria as a nation can do it alone. We are still working to attract investment in that regard and I’m sure it will work out”
“Not only Nigeria as a nation can do it alone. We are still working to attract investment in that regard and I’m sure it will work out”
Eno explained that the state government is already embarking on multi-billion naira marine infrastructure project to revive maritime transportation, create commercial activity within the maritime corridor in the state, by creating direct and indirect employment around the maritime ecosystem.
“Work is currently ongoing in such areas as shore protection, terminal building, passenger warehouses, cold rooms, to ensure our fishermen are able to get the most economic benefits for their efforts in a sustainable manner
In his goodwill message at the summit , the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas described the summit as strategic and timely as the blue economy was necessary in the nation’s pursuit for a diversified economy.
Abbas who was represented by Rear Admiral Sunday Atakpa at the summit noted that the sustainable development of the Niger Delta was connected to the effective governance and security of nigeria’s maritime domain.
He mentioned that the Nigerian Navy established the International Maritime Institute of Nigeria in June 2024 to drive the knowledge base for blue economy in Nigeria.
He maintained that Navy would continue to safeguard critical maritime infrastructure, protect marine resources and suppress illegal activities and other maritime crimes that undermine development in the south south region, as well as support collaborative efforts targeted at long-term stability, investor confidence and inclusive growth in the Niger Delta.
“Nigeria has vantage geographical position in the resource-rich gulf of guinea, the stores upon the country are blue economy endowments. Interestingly these endowments aside from Lagos and small portion of ogun state are domiciled in the Niger Delta.
“To sustainably enhance these resources which offers huge potentials for national development a secure stable
and well-regulated maritime environment is required.
It is in recognition of this trite truth that the niger navy places maritime security at the center of national efforts to unlock nigeria’s blue economy opportunities through sustained presence at sea, enhanced maritime domain awareness, robust interagency collaboration and partnerships with regional and international stakeholders.
“The Nigerian Navy remains committed to safeguarding critical maritime infrastructure, protecting marine resources and suppressing illegal activities such as food oil theft, piracy, illegal bunkering and other maritime crimes that undermine development in the region”.
