12 June 2015, Calabar – Akwa ibom State government has inaugurated a 10-member Technical Committee on the Ibom Deep Seaport. The seaport is to come on stream on or before December 31, 2018.
Governor Udom Emmanuel, who spoke yesterday after the inauguration of the committee, mandated the members to draw up a road map in collaboration with other stakeholders for the next project phase.
Emmanuel urged the committee to review the Outline Business Case (OBC) and other relevant documents to guide in the timely delivery of the project and to ensure compliance with the ICRC Act, 2005 and the National Policy on Public-Private Partnership (PPP) in the overall project implementation.
The governor said: “The Ibaka Deep Seaport is an audacious attempt to re-write the maritime story of Akwa Ibom State. It holds the promise of an industrial revolution of our state. It holds the promise of the industrialisation of Akwa Ibom. It holds the promise of the creation of over 100,000 jobs. It holds the promise of a self-sustaining commercial city with oil and gas support services. It holds the promise of our finally tapping into our awesome and largely untapped maritime potentials.”
The committee has Mrs. Mfon Usoro, a former Director General of Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency as Chairman while Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem, Mr. Chidi Izuwah, Mr. Idongesit Udofa, Ekong Umo-Otong, Rear Admiral Francis Akpan, Aniekan Ukpanah, Mr. Charles Udonwah, Mrs. Akon Eyakenyi and Engr. Etido Inyang are members.
The committee is to liaise with the Federal Ministry of Transport, Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA), and Ministerial Project Development Steering Committee (MPDSC) in all procurement processes in line with the Public Procurement Act 2007; evaluate Technical reports from the Transaction Adviser (TA) & Operator and ensure implementation.
Other terms of reference are to work with the host communities in resolving issues incidental to the realisation of the Deep Seaport Project and commence discussion with various investors.
– The Nation
