Etim EtimWith a 129-km coast line – the longest in the country – and many inland waterways, Akwa Ibom State is designing new schemes to exploit the huge potentials in its maritime economy. And this costs a lot of money. The government is building a deep sea port, designed for very large vessels that can load over 13,000 containers in one voyage. It is a joint venture with the Nigerian Port Authority with the Singapore-based Global Maritime & Port Services PTE Limited as the transaction driver. The government is pleading with the Tinubu administration for the full support of the federal government to realize the construction of the deep sea port as the other ports in the country; especially the ones in Lagos are congested. In the meantime, the state government is also developing a modern maritime infrastructure in the coastal town of Oron to facilitate trade, water transportation, boost tourism and reap the benefits of the maritime economy. The project includes a terminal building, new cargo jetty, ferry jetty and joint task force (JTF) jetty.
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Join our WhatsApp ChannelThere will be high-capacity storage facility for warehouse, dry storage and cold room, in addition to provision of shoreline and embankment protection facility. To boost water transportation between the state and neighbouring Cross River State, the government has already ordered Nigerian Naval Shipyard Limited, a subsidiary of Nigerian Navy, to build two luxury ferries, one of which is expected to be delivered later this year. Each ferry will carry 150 passengers. To encourage leisure and tourism, there is a provision for a garden at the beachfront and a facelift for the museum in the town. Rear Admiral Etop Ebe, the Superintendent of the Naval Shipyard said the ferries would be built to international standard with consideration for safety and comfort.
The provision of ferry service will essentially restore interstate passenger water transportation which was the only mode of transport between the two states till the now dilapidated Calabar-Itu-Uyo highway was constructed in 1978. Gov. Umo Eno said at the flag-off of construction work that the project is meant to ‘’ignite the renewal and renaissance of Oron as a thriving beachfront town’’. Currently over 1,000 workers are employed at this construction stage, according to Fassal Harb, the chief executive of Bulletin Construction Company which is handling the project. Developing the maritime economy, also known as the blue economy, is an important component of the governor’s economic blueprint. Blue economy creates jobs; drives up revenue; boosts tourism and recreation; facilitates transportation and adds to the GDP growth, among many other benefits. Together with the N5 billion cash and equipment support the government is currently doling out to thousands of NMSES (Nano-, micro- and small-scale enterprises), the new investments in the maritime sector should go a long way in stimulating rural economic activities. ‘’My main objective is to create a secondary, rural-based economy in the state that will not only provide food to the urban markets, but ensures that our communities are more developed and livable’’, the governor said.
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With the investment in maritime infrastructure, the government is hoping to enhance food production through fishing and aquaculture. From generation to generation, Oron has been a major source of seafood in the country, and the provision of cold room by government as part of the infrastructural overhaul will further improve its supply. Marine insecurity was a challenge in the past as pirates regularly mugged fishermen and farers. To curb this, Gov. Eno has created Ministry of Internal & Waterways Security and appointed a retired army general as commissioner to curb security challenges in our waterways. The efforts have paid off. A Marine JTF jetty and outpost together with a solar-powered lighting are will further enhance security of the Oron beach.
Ibom Deep Sea Port is an important national infrastructure that the federal government ought to support wholeheartedly for the development of the maritime sector in the Gulf of Guinea. Nigeria will benefit enormously from it. Let’s get it done!
Etim Etim
ETIM ETIM is a journalist, banker and author. He has been a member of the Editorial Board of The Guardian, a Regional Manager in Access Bank and is currently a Columnist in Prime Business Africa, The Cable and Businessday newspapers.
He is also the Chief Executive of Stein Meyer Communications, a major media consultancy and the author of the best-selling book, "Akwa Ibom Heroes: Inside Story of the Fight for Abrogation of Onshore-Offshore Oil Dichotomy" and co-author of another book, "Osinbajo Strides: Defining Moments of an Innovative Leader".
