The Akwa Ibom State Governor, pastor Umo Bassey Eno, has resumed talks with the president of the federal republic of Nigeria Bola Ahmed Tinubu, over the implementation of the Ibom Deep Seaport project.
On Wednesday, the Governor sought the Federal Government’s support to fully implement the Ibom Deep Seaport project in order to decongest Lagos seaport.
Governor Eno argued that Nigeria’s South-South needs a seaport serving its population and described other seaports, especially that of Lagos as “congested”.
“We’ve talked and requested him to support us with our Ibom deep seaport,” the Governor told State House Correspondents after he emerged from closed-door talks with President Bola Tinubu at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja.
He explained that the Ibom Deep Seaport, located at the South East of Akwa Ibom State, is planned to be a deep-water facility built on a natural draft of about 17.5 meters, one of the deepest in the region.
In addition, he quoted experts as saying the depth is a key feature allowing it to accommodate large vessels and handle a variety of cargo, including containers, dry bulk and liquid cargo.
Truth Live News gathered that the IDSP will be owned by the Federal Government of Nigeria through the Nigeria Ports Authority in partnership with Akwa Ibom State Government and private investors.
Report has it that although, the Federal Executive Council approved the Outline Business Case for the Public-Private Partnership project in May 2015, it remains uncompleted nearly a decade later.
However, the immediate past Udom Emmanuel administration said it has midwifed critical stages of the project’s development.
Eno while making a case for the project said, “Ibom deep sea port has the deepest wharf that will bring in ship and we can ship from that point.”
“Again, Lagos is there. But you know Lagos is congested, that is no story. So, you need a deep seaport that will take care of the south east, south-south, if you like, the Niger Delta region,” he said.
The paper also learned that the governor discussed plans for the Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul of some sections of the Akwa Ibom International Airport, Uyo, among others.
