At last, the Federal Executive Council has given approval for the commencement of business in Ibom Deep seaport.
Akwa Ibom Commissioner for Information & Strategy, Ini Ememobong, who stated this in a statement on Wednesday, said the approval came on the heels of the vigorous push by the Udom Emmanuel administration for the actualization of this long awaited vision.
The project was initiated by Victor Attah administrations, executed by Godswill Akpabio administration and pursued by Udom Emmanuel administration.
Speaking to newsmen on implications of the latest and final approval for the Ibom Deep Seaport, the Commissioner for Economic Development and Deep Seaport, Mr. Akan Okon stated that since “port construction is on the Exclusive List the Ibom Deep Seaport needed to be approved by the Federal Government.
The State Governor Udom Emmanuel commended President Muhammadu Buhari, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN and the entire members of the Federal Executive Council, especially the Minister of Transport, Minister of State for Transport, Rotimi Amaechi; the Nigerian Ports Authority, Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission, Bureau for Public Procurement and every official of the Federal Government involved in the landmark decision.
Governor Emmanuel also thanked the Technical Committee for the Implementation of the Deep seaport led by Mrs Mfon Usoro and the entire officials of the Akwa Ibom State Government, who worked tirelessly to achieve this gladdening success story, are very well appreciated.
The Governor said his administration would soon lay out a full scale implementation plan for both the Deep seaport and the Liberty Oil and Gas free Zone, also recently approved for commencement.
He said the free trade zone would be the largest in the Nigeria, covering such six local government areas as Ikot Abasi, Oruk Anam, Onna, Eastern Obolo, Mkpat Enin and Ibeno. The area designated for the zone covers 50,000 hectares.
Investments in the zone have been reported to be $10 billion. It should create more than 7,000 long-term jobs. The state government, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and Black Rhino Group are backing the Liberty Zone.
Nigerian Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment Otunba Niyi Adebayo held a meeting this month on evaluating free trade zones.
Various plans have been suggested for the Liberty Zone. These include a gas-fired power plant, a petrochemicals plant, and LNG plant and network and a refinery.
Bua Group is planning to build a 200,000 barrel per day refinery in Akwa Ibom.
