Aniefiok Christopher
Akwa Ibom Government has attributed delay in the take-off of the Ibom Deep Seaport project to the absence of investors, despite the state having secured all required approvals and certifications.
Governor Umo Eno, who stated this at a three-day Niger Delta Blue Economy Summit held on Tuesday at the Four-Points by Sheraton Hotel in Ikot Ekpene, noted that his recent defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC) was aimed at accelerating the actualisation of the long-awaited seaport project.
The governor, who was represented by the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Uko Essien Udom, explained that all regulatory requirements, certifications, and statutory approvals for the Ibom Deep Seaport have been fully obtained.
Also read: Consortium Plans to Invest $8 billion in Ibom Deep Seaport
He added that access roads leading to the seaport site are already under construction, underscoring the state government’s readiness to move the project forward once investment commitments are secured.
“Ibom Deep Seaport is not going to be a white elephant thing. 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 proper. This is the most natural seaport you can ever have in Nigeria. There’ll be no dredging of any sort.
“Originally, the 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 the Central African Republic as well as the hinterlands of Nigeria.
“We will work very hard to ensure it happens. It’s an investment that can only happen if we attract foreign investment in the course of building a deep Seaport. Not only can Nigeria as a nation do it alone. We are still working to attract investment in that regard, and I’m sure it will work out,” he stated.
Eno explained that the government is already embarking on a 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, and cold rooms to ensure our fishermen can get the most economic benefits for their efforts in a sustainable manner,” he said.
This is oblivious of the ‘‘Hope for the Ibom Deep Seaport in Akwa Ibom State is rising as a consortium of investors signal readiness to invest a whopping $8 billion in the project’’ (Published by Straightnews Online of January 16, 2026).
However, Etim O. Frank, an Associate Professor in the Department of Public Administration, University of Uyo, University of Uyo, holds a different view about delay in kick starting Ibom Deep Seaport.
Frank who spoke on Comfort FM, Uyo on Wednesday, February 12, attributed the delay to lack of leadership vacuum, lack of vision, non-investment of the state in the project and Federal Government’s lack of collaboration to actualising the project.
He frowned at mingling politics with the project. ‘‘Politics is being played in the project. Why do we allow seaports to domicile in Lagos when there are places with natural deep seas for ports like Akwa Ibom? The Ibom Deep Seaport (whatever name you call it) is mentioned as a seaport in the 1957 Willink Commission.
According to him, ”Every time the President will travel out, yet why can’t he make the Ibom Deep Seaport a front line project? We need collaboration between the State and the Federal Governments. The seaport project is bigger than Akwa Ibom. We need the collaboration of the Federal Government to execute it.
”Again, there is leadership vacuum. It is true that we have leaders, but how many have the will to better the lost of the masses or pursue programmes and projects with lasting impact on the masses?
”Lack of vision is the bane of our leaders. Our leaders do not sit down to think: Where are we today? Where are we expected to be tomorrow? What are we supposed to do today to be there tomorrow?
”Again, has the state Government built some infrastructure to attract some investors? You cannot put anything on nothing. Investors want to make sure their investments are safe; therwise, they will not come,” Frank stated.
