As a way of turning Akwa Ibom State in the South-South region into a one-stop economic hub in the country, Technical Committee On the Actualisation of Ibom Deep Seaport and Industrial City may complete the certification process of the project before the end of this year for commencement of business.
So far, the committee inaugurated in 2015 has completed a Pre-Bid Conference with three qualified bidders and other stakeholders for the seaport development.
As a result, a consortium of Bollore and Power China, China Road Breach Corporation, CRBC and China Harbour Engineering Company of Nigeria have scaled through preliminary bidding for the construction of the seaport.
Mrs. Mfon Usoro, the Chairman of the Technical Committee stated this when she led the delegation of the international firms to Governòr Udom Emmanuel at Government House, Uyo Thursday, explaining that the conference with the bidders is a mandatory requirement in the Federal Government procurement process.
Usoro said the committee gave them more information about the project with the hope that they would be able to submit robust proposals to the Ministerial Projects Development Steering Committee for evaluation before the parties involved get to the next stage of the project.
“We have attained another milestone in the project development of Ibom Deep Seaport. At the end of the evaluation, the preferred bidder will be announced and thereafter get to negotiation with sponsors on the concession and share holders’ agreement,” she said.
Addressing the Technical Committee on Ibom Industrial City and Deep Seaport, representatives of the Federal Ministry of Transportation, Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, consultants and other stakeholders after the conference, Governor Udom Emmanuel told the bidders that they would not have asked for a better investment opportunity than the Ibom deep seaport.
Emmanuel described the proposed Ibom Seaport as standing in a very good position to serve the South-South, South-East and Middle belt up to Abuja while also servicing the Gulf of Guinea.
The Governor enumerated the challenges of operating a single seaport in Nigeria and stated that a country of over 170 million people cannot be fed from only one seaport.
“People try to compare our port with others, this is a natural draught, you do not need to worry about dredging or any other thing,” the Governor assured.
He said that the port will be digital with at least four exits to ease traffic congestion within and outside the facility.
The Governor thanked the Federal Government for supporting the project, and assured that the state and other stakeholders involved in the development of Ibom Seaport to comply with international standard.
Emmanuel commended the Technical Committee, Nigeria Ports Authority and consultants for the steps taken by Akwa Ibom State to build a seaport that would benefit generations yet unborn.
He assured to apply the latest technology for fast clearance of goods to enable investors to realise the return on their investment right on time.
Mr. Akan Okon, the Commissioner for Urban Renewal and Special Duties, hoped that before the end of the year, the committee would come to the end of the entire transaction since everyone involved in the project was showing great commitment.
In a remark, Sani Umar Galadanchi, the Chairman, Project Development Steering Committee and Director, Maritime Services, Federal Ministry of Transportation, said the Minister of Transportation has passion for the project, and promised to continue to work with the state Technical Committee and other stakeholders to achieve result.
“This project is not just for Akwa Ibom State, it is for the country and Africa in general. I wish to inform you that we have been working in a way that by God’s grace, the project may commence sooner than later,” Galadanchi noted.
Similarly, Onwode Emmanuel, the Director of Transportation, said the process so far was done under strict compliance with the guidelines, and expressed the readiness to certify the next stage of the process and see how they can meet up with what he called, aggressive time table for the project.
He further explained that, “all these put together, we have a November-December date which the Technical Committee is working with. We are leaving no stone unturned to make sure we achieve that.”
The representatives of Bollore and Power China and China Harbour Engineering Company Limited described the project as a mega facility, hoping to emerge the preferred bidder.
Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem, the Secretary to the State Government; Mr. Orman Esin, Commissioner for Transportation and Petroleum Resources; Mr Charles Udoh, Commissioner of Information and Strategy, members of the Technical Committee on Ibom Deep Seaport, representatives of Federal Ministry of Transportation, Nigerian Ports Authority and consultants were at the investment interaction.
