•Governor Umo Eno
Akwa Ibom State governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has reiterated his administration’s commitment to the realisation of the Ibom Deep Seaport Project, expressing confidence that the initiative, which started over 20 years ago, will see the light of day.
The governor made the assurance yesterday, Wednesday, April 8, 2026, at the Banquet Hall of Government House, Uyo, during the presentation of the project’s feasibility report by the Technical Committee.
This was made known in a statement issued yesterday by the Commissioner for Information, Hon Aniekan Umanah and made available to The Frontier.
According to Umanah, receiving the report, the governor applauded the committee for their detailed and professional work, commending their dedication and commitment to ensuring the success of the project.
“Presenting the report, the committee chairman, Mrs. Mfon Usoro, a maritime lawyer and former Director General of NIMASA, said the project is designed to drive economic growth, expand Nigeria’s port capacity, and improve ease of doing business through a Public-Private Partnership model.
“She noted that the seaport would accelerate industrialisation by integrating with the Ibom Industrial City, and as a Free Trade Zone, it is positioned to become a major transshipment hub and one of the largest deep-sea ports in the region.
“Governor Eno paid tribute to past leaders who laid the foundation for the project, including former Governor Victor Attah, Senate President and former Governor Godswill Akpabio, and immediate past Governor Udom Emmanuel. He cautioned against politicising the project, emphasising that deep seaport development is ‘not a sprint but a marathon.’
“He highlighted decisive steps taken by his administration, including funding a full feasibility study, preparing investor fact sheets, constructing access roads, conducting geophysical and geotechnical studies, and establishing a project office in the state,” said Umanah.
The statement further said, “Governor Eno noted the administration’s integration of land, air, and maritime sectors, citing over 1,300 kilometers of roads, expansion of Ibom Air, upgrades at Victor Attah International Airport, and ongoing maritime investments in Oron.”
Reaffirming his results-driven approach, Governor Eno said, “We decided to bring everyone together and move all aspects of the deep seaport project to the front burner to enable us aggregate exactly what we need to do with timelines.”
The governor, said the statement, tasked the committee to actively engage investors and the people, adding, “If we succeed with this project, Akwa Ibom wins.”
“The Governor also directed the Hon. Commissioner for Special Duties to develop training initiatives for youths, ensuring that human capital needs are met and a skilled workforce is available for the construction phase and beyond.
“Mrs. Usoro detailed milestones already achieved, including the engagement of Programme Managers, appointment of global transaction advisors, completion of feasibility studies, due diligence, financial modeling, and a transparent international bidding process that produced preferred bidders.
“She highlighted the project’s priority phases, starting with infrastructure development, including container terminals, main and secondary breakwaters, and Navy berths. Other key activities include Front-End Engineering Design (FEED), market and financial studies, port access road construction, investment roadshows, marketing of the Ibom Industrial City, land acquisition, regularisation of Free Trade Zone licenses with the Nigerian Export Processing Zones Authority, and re-engagement with the Nigerian Ports Authority on concession negotiations.
“She appealed for patience from the people, explaining that port development is complex and time-consuming, noting that similar projects globally often take up to 20 years from conception to commissioning,” Umanah stated further.
The event was attended by top government functionaries and stakeholders, including Deputy Governor Akon Eyakenyi, Coordinator of the Office of the First Lady Lady Helen Eno Obareki, Speaker of the State House of Assembly Udeme Otong, House Leader Otobong Bob, former Ministers Umana Okon Umana and Don Etiebet, former Deputy Governor Nsima Ekere, Senator Effiong Bob, Secretary to the State Government Enobong Uwah, Head of Civil Service Elsie Peters, Executive Assistant/Chief Delivery Advisor Aniefiok Johnson, commissioners, and the 31 local government chairmen.
Representatives of the Federal Ministry of Finance Incorporated and relevant government agencies were also present, highlighting the collaborative effort between the state, federal agencies, and private investors to ensure the successful realization of the Ibom Deep Seaport Project.
