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Ibom Deep Seaport: Akwa Ibom Government Tasks Host Communities
Akwa Ibom State government has urged host communities of Ibom Deep Seaport to cooperate for the smooth take-off as the interests of the area were accommodated in the scheme of things.
Chairman, Technical Committee on the Ibom Sea Port, Mrs. Mfon Usoro told the host communities. She said that getting Federal Government’s approval for the project does not make it an entirely Federal Government project.
Usoro stated this during a stakeholder meeting at the Oron Union Secretariat. She noted that the committee was following due process. This is necessary since the project fell under the exclusive list of the Federal Government.
Recalled that before now, some host communities had started expressing some concerns. Their fears was that if the Federal Government-owned the project. Therefore, the people would be denied certain benefits. Ibom Deep Seaport
“So, to allay such misconceptions, the committee had to put the records straight. We want to solicit their support and cooperation with would-be investors for the execution of the project. The Federal Government approved the processes. This is emanating from the technical committee because port operations are under the exclusive list.
“Everything we do under this project is approved by the Federal Government. It spans through 14,800 square meters of dry land on the Oron seashore away from the Atlantic Ocean.”
The Federal Executive Council (SEC) approved it on December 16, 2020.”
“The procurement process of the Ibom Deep Sea Port has been adjudged to be the best. This is as adopted by the Federal Government,” she stated.
She added that the state government was passionate about the project. Usoro also urged the host communities to cooperate for the project to commence without delay. This is as their interests and that of the entire state was being accommodated.
Usoro also urged the host communities to consider the benefits of the project against the opposing stance of some suspicious and antagonistic persons that may discourage foreign investors from patronising the project.
The Federal Executive Council (SEC) approved it on December 16, 2020.”
“The procurement process of the Ibom Deep Sea Port has been adjudged to be the best, as adopted by the Federal Government,” she stated.
She added that the state government was passionate about the project and urged the host communities to cooperate for the project to commence without delay, as their interests and that of the entire state was being accommodated.
Usoro also urged the host communities to consider the benefits of the project against the opposing stance of some suspicious and antagonistic persons that may discourage foreign investors from patronising the project. Ibom Deep Seaport
Ekuwem explained that the name change from Ibaka Deep Sea Port to Ibom Deep Sea Port was done in good faith to reflect the rebranding of state-owned projects and institutions as obtained in other government facilities in the state.
He listed such projects as Ibom Air, Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic, Ikot Osura, Akwa Ibom State University-AKSU, Ibom Hotels, and Golf Resort, saying Governor Udom Emmanuel’s rebranding of government projects was in order.
He maintained that the intention was not to short-change the host communities, as widely speculated in social media, but to give a status brand to government facilities.
Earlier, Commissioner for Economic Development and Ibom Deep Sea Project, Akan Okon, said the project would create over 300,000 jobs for Akwa Ibom youths and urged the host communities to focus on its positive impacts, rather than show a negative attitude.
