Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — Akwa Ibom State Governor, Udom Emmanuel, has lamented the numerous petitions written by stakeholders in Oron, over the site location of the planned Ibom deep seaport project.
This is as the French investors, Bollore Transport Logistics, have reportedly pulled out of the project, with their 60percent equity investments prospects, as a result of persistent petitions against the project.
Speaking on the development, Governor Udom Emmanuel said if he does not achieve the realization of the project before leaving office in 2023, the people of Oron should be held responsible.
“The problem we have with Ibom Deep seaport is that the people of Oron wrote a lot of petitions. Anybody entering plane to Akwa Ibom says he’s going to Uyo, not Uruan or Nsit Atai where the airport is located.
“Ibom is a brand name we should enjoy brand equity from but they have written petitions and driven our investors away. If I leave office without achieving that project, hold them responsible, not me,” the governor said.
Meanwhile, Governor Udom Emmanuel has approved the enlargement of the Technical Committee on the Implementation of Ibom Deep Sea Port by the addition of four more persons, to accommodate the input of the host communities.
The decision to enlarged the committee emanated from a meeting between the State Government and representatives of the Oro people held at Government House, Uyo.
Chairman Oron Steering Committee, Amb. Etim Uye, speaking on behalf of Oron people, disowned the vexatious petitions written by his kinsmen and apologised to the Governor on the embarrassment that may have arisen therefrom.
Uye announced the preparedness of the people of Oron to receive and support the deep sea port project and other projects attracted to their area by the governor.
