Ibom Airport, Seaport Projects Making Progress, Says Commissioner

Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Housing and Special Duties, Mr. Akan Okon has revealed that the state government had made significant progress at the Ibom International Airport and the Ibom deep seaport, respectively, in the past three years as a result of the importance Governor Udom Emmanuel attaches to such infrastructure.

Okon debunked the claim that the government was not doing anything in Uyo on the state of the Ibom deep seaport project.

He disclosed that the ground breaking hopefully would be performed by November this year.

He also stated that all other processes that lead to the construction had been completed and all that is left is to sign agreement with the preferred bidder.

He said, “And with the level that we have reached now, by the end of November this year, God willing, there should be a ground breaking. The most important thing was getting a preferred bidder.”

We have done that. The bidder’s conference was held in May this year in Uyo.

“The Deep seaport project would benefit Akwa Ibom in various ways. For one, the establishment of the seaport would provide job opportunities for the indigenes of Akwa Ibom State,” he added.

Okon said, “anywhere in the world that you have a seaport, it is capable of changing the narrative of the society because of the employment opportunity it creates. That is why upon assumption of office, Governor Emmanuel set up a technical committee to ensure that the Ibom Deep seaport project is realised.”

Speaking on other infrastructural developments birthed by Governor Udom’s administration, Okon noted that quite a number of sectors have been improved as a result of the importance Udom places on Infrastructures.

He said, “in respect of other things that we have done, you know that our Airport has been run on generator since inception. But I am happy to tell you that this government has successfully completed a power substation to power the Airport. We believe this is going to ensure that the Airport is run efficiently. Notwithstanding that the resources that is available to us is not the way it used to be, but the government attaches importance to such infrastructure.”