UYO
In furtherance of Governor Umo Eno’s promise to actualise the Ibom Deep Seaport project, the Akwa Ibom government has pledged its renewed commitment to continue to invest efforts and the needed resources to ensure the fulfilment of the governor’s promise.
The State commissioner for special duties and Ibom Deep Seaport, Comrade Ini Ememobong, made the pledge on Thursday, March 6, when he paid a courtesy visit to the chairman, Technical Committee on the Implementation of Ibom Deep Seaport, Mrs. Mfon Usoro, at the Project Office of the Committee in Uyo.
In her remarks, Usoro commended the commissioner for not only taking interest in the project, but also swinging into action immediately after his appointment, adding that the gesture was an indication of the State government’s renewed commitment to actualising the project.
Giving an update on the progress recorded so far on the project, Usoro disclosed that the master-plan for the Ibom Industrial City has been approved, adding that the Committee’s role has been to provide the brain work while the implementation would be handled by the Ministry.
“It’s a twin project; the Ibom Industrial City and Ibom Deep Seaport. The Deep Seaport is situated in the Industrial City and the two projects were supposed to go together because the industries that are supposed to be located in the industrial city actually fit into the port.
“For the Ibom Industrial City, we have completed our work in the sense that the master plan has been approved. The detailed infrastructural design had been produced and approved; the location of the power plant, water dissemination plant, and all the utilities including the drawings for the drainage, the roads – secondary roads and the connecting ones.
“As an implementation committee, we have been dedicated to ensuring that the project is actualised so that the people of that constituency will see that the government is sincere about developing the area,” she said.
The technical committee chairman further disclosed that with designs for the sales office and city gate completed and approved, the project was ready for the next phase which will be to market the project to investors.
In his response, Comrade Ememobong appreciated the chairman and the committee members for the job done so far in actualising the project, assuring of the Ministry’s full commitment to actualising the project.
“His Excellency has mandated me to work fully with you. It is a task I am excited about because even from the Ministry’s end, there is a lot for us to learn. This is an opportunity to develop local expertise and to retain same here.
One of the key things we will also be discussing will be how we can develop high level, mid-level and low level expertise for our people.
While emphasising the need to develop local expertise in order to position Akwa Ibom people for the opportunities that will be available in the Deep Seaport as well as working to actualise the project, Ememobong reassured that the collaboration will ensure critical issues like community relations, among others, are resolved.
“If there is one project that the entire Akwa Ibom people want to see come to reality, it is the Deep Seaport, because they understand how important the project is to the state. So, I commit to you that the Ministry is available for you. Everything you need from our end will be available.
“I can also assure you of His Excellency’s commitment. Remember, he gave his commitment publicly during the last Ministerial Briefing,” he assured.
Ememobong thanked Governor Umo Eno for entrusting them with the task of ensuring that the project is actualised, assuring Akwa Ibom people that both parties will work tirelessly to make their dreams of the Deep Seaport come true.
Recall that during the Exco Inter-Ministerial Briefing and End-of-Year Review last December, Governor Eno had promised that the Ibom Deep Seaport project will be a priority of the administration in 2025, saying, “Ibom Deep Seaport is back on the front burner and we have timelines for each sub-project of the Seaport”.
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