Mkpoikana Udoma 24 March 2016, Sweetcrude, Uyo – The Akwa Ibom State Government says the Ibom Deep Seaport is a top priority of the current administration, describing it as the fastest developing seaport in Nigeria.
Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Special Duties, Engr. Etido Inyang, disclosed this while briefing newsmen in Uyo, following the speculation in the media that Governor Udom Emmanuel-led administration has abandoned the seaport project which was initiated by the former governor, Sen. Godswill Akpabio.
Inyang, who during the Akapbio-led administration was the Secretary of the Technical Committee of Ibom Deep seaport project, described the current media speculation as baseless.
“The speed we are taking to study the feasibility analysis of the Ibom Deep Seaport makes it to be the fastest developing seaport in Nigeria even though we have not started the construction.
According to him, “By end of this year the contracted consultants will finish their final business phase which will help to determine the financial implications of constructing a deep seaport and this will guide the operators on the parameters like; Ocean surveying,
topography survey and wave survey when developing the seaport.
“The deep seaport projects is always carried out by Federal Government; all we did was to fast-track the process through very detailed feasibility studies carried out by world renowned consultants who have a lot of connections with intending investors.
So with the industrial revolution drive of Governor Udom Emmanuel, by the year 2018, the construction of Ibom Deep Seaport will fully commence”.
The commissioner further explained that the governor has already set up a Technical Committee on the seaport project, chaired by a former Managing Director of NIMASA, Mrs Mfon Usoro (SAN), which is saddled with a responsibility to fast-track the process of the development of the port.
“Ibom Deep Seaport remains a top-priority of the current administration. This is why the Technical Committee on Ibom Deep Seaport was the first to be inaugurated in Udom Emmanuel’s administration. The Committee, chaired by a former MD of NIMASA, Mrs Mfon Usoro (SAN), is saddled with a responsibility to fast-track the process of the development of the port and also to produce a transaction adviser that will take the project to the final business case”.
