A high wired plot to obstruct the actualization of the Ibaka Deep Seaport project within the deep waters of Akwa Ibom State, by some highly placed persons working in tandem with some officials of the Nigerian Ports Authority has been uncovered.
Investigation reveals that the plot is being hatched by some opposition Governors and some highly placed Nigerians to obtain an “obnoxious letter” from the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) with a view to presenting the Seaport project as not viable.
The plot, it was revealed is designed to ensure that the Ibaka Deep Seaport Initiative does not see the light of the day, thereby paving way for development of new Seaports in other parts of the Country.
The conspiracy against Akwa Ibom State, sources say, seeks to discredit the Deep Seaport project under a ‘non viability cover’, despite the fact that the Federal Government had set up an implementation committee to facilitate preparatory works and went on to capture the project in the 2014 budget, having been convinced that the port will not only boost the nation’s economy, but that of the West African sub-region as well.
It would be recalled that the Akwa Ibom State Government in collaboration with the Nigerian Ports Authority is planning to develop a Deep Sea Port within the Ibom Industrial Free Trade Zone to facilitate economic development with the South Eastern part of Nigeria and the Gulf of Guinea.
Findings further revealed that in December 2012, the government had engaged international consultants to assist NPA in the execution of preliminary technical, bankability and feasibility studies which found the project ’large, viable and bankable’ with proven economic development capabilities within the region.
Our findings reveal that the choice of Ibaka for the proposed Seaport dates back to 1952, by the British Government, and a feasibility study to that effect submitted to The British crown even before the shallow and inland water ports at Calabar and Port Harcourt were established.
Maritime analysts posit that, Ibaka is the most viable location for the Seaport, going by the deep sea draught of 16m, which would need no dredging as well as the strategic proximity of the proposed port at the corridors of the main Gulf of Guinea and the commercial cities of Aba and Onitsha noting its nearness to Exxon Mobil and other major Oil concerns as well as the Sao Tome and Principe as ‘’towering advantage to the’ Nation’s economic drive’’ which should be fast tracked to assume its full potentials.
An investment expert advised those plotting the failure to look elsewhere as no right thinking government would allow such a huge economic opportunity to be sacrificed on the alter of blind politics against principles of justice and fairness particularly for a State that is the highest crude oil producer and biggest contributor to national wealth.
He added that it would be counter-productive to the ongoing Transformation Agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan and a
great diservice to both the South- south and West Africa’s hope for economic renaissance.
On the commitment of the Akwa Ibom State government at ensuring that the project see the light of the day, officials of the government said the Akpabio administration had done all necessary preparatory works and that the state has made a huge financial commitment to its realization, which include the parcelation and acquisition of 14,400 hectares of land, appointment of transaction advisors as well as the setting up of an implementation committee to help drive the initiative.
State officials further said that Akwa Ibom State Governor’s readiness in supporting the Federal government and other
investors to actualise the dream is unshaken.
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