*Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State
Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — The Akwa Ibom State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to harnessing the blue economy and driving maritime development, emphasizing its strategic focus on the Ibom Deep Seaport and related infrastructure.
The Commissioner for Special Duties and Ibom Deep Seaport, Mr Ini Ememobong, made this known when he hosted members of the Akwa Ibom Oil and Gas Professionals in his office in Uyo, the state capital.
Ememobong pointed to the recent commissioning of the Surge Protections project and development of Surge lines in Oron as a clear demonstration of Governor Umo Eno’s dedication to maritime growth.
“This action will bring greater focus on maritime transport and recreation in the area,” Ememobong said.
Highlighting the strategic importance of the Ibom Deep Seaport, the commissioner described it as a foundation for future development and stressed the need for collaboration between the Ministry and maritime oil and gas professionals to drive sustainable growth.
“The industrial city envisioned by His Excellency aims to build indigenous capacity and ensure local participation in its development. This is where the local content law comes into play, requiring that a certain percentage of the project’s workforce, services, and materials be sourced locally.”
However, the commissioner emphasized that local participation could only be achieved through deliberate capacity-building initiatives.
“To activate this law, there must be available capacity among local individuals and businesses. That is why the Governor has prioritized capacity procurement—ensuring that skills and resources are developed before project execution begins. This guarantees that our communities are well-prepared to take advantage of the opportunities emerging from the industrial city’s development.”
He also commended the technical committee led by Mrs. Mfon Usoro for driving the Ibom Deep Seaport project forward.
“The committee is ready to collaborate with key stakeholders to turn the vision of the Ibom Deep Seaport into a reality,” he added.
Speaking on behalf of the delegation, Captain Sunday Umoren, Secretary-General, Port State Control for the West and Central African Region, expressed enthusiasm about contributing to Akwa Ibom’s maritime sector development.
“As indigenes of the state with expertise in different areas of the maritime cluster, we are here to support human capacity building in preparation for the Ibom Deep Seaport,” Umoren said.
He warned that without proper positioning and planning, Akwa Ibom could miss out on the full economic benefits of having a deep seaport.
“The deep seaport is just one part of the equation. There are other aspects of port development that must be addressed. If we don’t prepare properly, we may end up having a deep seaport in Akwa Ibom but not making the best out of it,” he cautioned.
