The Ibom Deep Sea Port and Industrial City is on stream to kickstart major infrastructural projects to prepare for a ground-breaking exercise.
The Technical Committee met on Wednesday with the consultant port master planner, Dar Al-Handasar Ltd, and handed down the good news to finalise technical requirements for the groundbreaking of key project components.
Addressing the meeting, the Commissioner for Special Duties and Ibom Deep Seaport, Comrade Ini Ememobong, reaffirmed Governor’s commitment to the actualization of the Ibom Deep Sea Port and Industrial City, which he described as a vital avenue for job and wealth creation.
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Ememobong explained that the Ibom Industrial City, expected to generate at least 300,000 jobs and bring significant economic benefits to host communities, would house the deep sea port, training centers, and a logistics hub.
He restated Governor Umo Eno’s determination to kickstart major infrastructure projects at the industrial city, especially such developments as the City Gate, Sales Center, and construction of ongoing Unyenge-Orukim Road in 2025 to laying the foundation for port terminal development and eventual full-scale operations.
The Chairman of the Technical Committee, Barr. Mfon Usoro, expressed gratitude to the governor for his commitment to this transformational project and assured the full cooperation of the Committee in driving its realization.
Our correspondent reports that the proposed 2,565-hectare Ibom Deep Seaport project has remained on the drawing board since the administration of former Governor Godswill Akpabio, despite its classification as a priority project. Recall that Akpabio’s administration hosted a roadshow in London to attract investors.
In May 2015, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved the Outline Business Case and commencement of the procurement phase for the Ibom Deep Sea Port.
The approval followed a recommendation from the Ministerial Project Development Steering Committee (MPDSC) and was presented at FEC by the then Minister of Transportation.
Following this approval, Governor Udom Emmanuel inaugurated a 10-member Technical Committee for the Realization of the Ibom Deep Seaport in June 2015.
Led by Mfon Usoro, the pioneer Director-General and Chief Executive of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), the committee was tasked with ensuring the seaport’s completion by December 31, 2018.
Unfortunately, the seaport was left in limbo with no valid explanation for the committee.
In December 2020, the Akwa Ibom State Government celebrated the FEC’s approval of the Full Business Case for the project.
The ex-Governor Udom Emmanuel described the approval as the final milestone in a series of federal approvals required for the A¹ project, which has now spanned three successive administrations.
Despite this, the project was still in the cocoon because neither the government nor the committee went into action, thus allowing the project to still remain at the drawing board.
During the December 2024 Exco Ministerial briefing by Governor Eno making him the third Akwa Ibom governor to “prioritize” the Ibom Deep Seaport, Technical Committee Chairman Mfon Usoro revealed that the design and feasibility study would be completed in 2025.
Usoro assured the people of the Governor’s commitment to realise the construction of the seaport.
She outlined key components of the first phase, including dredging, breakwater construction, land reclamation, and the development of a container terminal and one liquid bulk terminal.
Before the first phase can commence, Usoro emphasized the need to finalize feasibility study reports, establish a Port Development Management Committee, negotiate the final concession with the Nigerian Ports Authority, select a construction company, regularize a Free Zone license, and construct the City Gate and Sales Center at Mbo in 2025.
