The State Government is set to build the Ibom Industrial City around the Ibaka Seaport
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| Governor Godswill Akpabio |
Governor Godswill Akpabio is set to unlock the maritime potential of Akwa Ibom State to accelerate the country’s economic development.
As part of the plans, the Akwa Ibom State Government will construct a railroad linking Uyo with Port Harcourt.
Speaking at the Nigerian Ports Consultative Council Maritime (NPCC) Summit in Uyo, Akpabio said it was important to link all states, economic zones and mining areas with railways for easy movement of goods and people.
He added that it was essential to update the railway system in the country and go for faster and more modern trains.
Akpabio listed the maritime potential of the state to include Ibaka Seaport, with one of the longest coastlines in the world and one of the deepest water depths in the country and rich in shrimps, lobsters and other crustaceans.
“The Ibaka Seaport would not require perennial dredging because it has a depth of 13-15 metres. It also has the added advantage of proximity and centrality to deep offshore operations and the West Africa Region Joint Development Zone including Sao Tome, Equatorial Guinea, Angola and Gabon.
"Added to this is the security and peaceful nature of the community and the availability of ample undeveloped land,’’ the Governor said.
He informed the Council of the state government's intention to build an Industrial City, to be known as Ibom Industrial City, in the area the seaport is located.
According to him, “The Ibom Industrial City would be an industrial mix of oil and gas-based support services, dock yard and watercraft repair facilities, fertiliser plant, oil refinery, gas-to-liquid projects, petrochemical industries, power plant and the Ibaka Seaport.
"It promises to be a self-sustaining industrial city with schools, hospitals, shopping malls, hotels, among others.”
He expressed hope that when fully operational, the industrial city would employ 100,000 people, increase the export base of the nation, strengthen the country’s position on the oil and gas map of the world and open the state as one the gateways to the world in the Gulf of Guinea.
Akpabio, who hinted that the state government has issued a Certificate of Occupancy for more than 5580 Sq. metres of land to the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), commended President Goodluck Jonathan for the Federal Government’s acceptance to develop the seaport.
The Minister of Transport, Idris Umar, who was represented by the Managing Director of Nigerian Port Authority (NPA), Omar Suleiman, thanked Akpabio for taking the responsibility of projecting the potential of the state outside the petroleum resources, saying that the infrastructural facilities in the state would assist in the take-off of the Ibaka Deep Seaport.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Nigerian Ports Consultative Council, Otunba Kunle Folarin lauded the Akwa Ibom State Governor for taking the initiative to host the meeting.
Folarin also pledged to assist the growth of the maritime sector of the state.
http://dailytimes.com.ng/article/akwa-ibom-explores-maritime-potential#.TvB9Q5HYAFw.twitter
As part of the plans, the Akwa Ibom State Government will construct a railroad linking Uyo with Port Harcourt.
Speaking at the Nigerian Ports Consultative Council Maritime (NPCC) Summit in Uyo, Akpabio said it was important to link all states, economic zones and mining areas with railways for easy movement of goods and people.
He added that it was essential to update the railway system in the country and go for faster and more modern trains.
Akpabio listed the maritime potential of the state to include Ibaka Seaport, with one of the longest coastlines in the world and one of the deepest water depths in the country and rich in shrimps, lobsters and other crustaceans.
“The Ibaka Seaport would not require perennial dredging because it has a depth of 13-15 metres. It also has the added advantage of proximity and centrality to deep offshore operations and the West Africa Region Joint Development Zone including Sao Tome, Equatorial Guinea, Angola and Gabon.
"Added to this is the security and peaceful nature of the community and the availability of ample undeveloped land,’’ the Governor said.
He informed the Council of the state government's intention to build an Industrial City, to be known as Ibom Industrial City, in the area the seaport is located.
According to him, “The Ibom Industrial City would be an industrial mix of oil and gas-based support services, dock yard and watercraft repair facilities, fertiliser plant, oil refinery, gas-to-liquid projects, petrochemical industries, power plant and the Ibaka Seaport.
"It promises to be a self-sustaining industrial city with schools, hospitals, shopping malls, hotels, among others.”
He expressed hope that when fully operational, the industrial city would employ 100,000 people, increase the export base of the nation, strengthen the country’s position on the oil and gas map of the world and open the state as one the gateways to the world in the Gulf of Guinea.
Akpabio, who hinted that the state government has issued a Certificate of Occupancy for more than 5580 Sq. metres of land to the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), commended President Goodluck Jonathan for the Federal Government’s acceptance to develop the seaport.
The Minister of Transport, Idris Umar, who was represented by the Managing Director of Nigerian Port Authority (NPA), Omar Suleiman, thanked Akpabio for taking the responsibility of projecting the potential of the state outside the petroleum resources, saying that the infrastructural facilities in the state would assist in the take-off of the Ibaka Deep Seaport.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Nigerian Ports Consultative Council, Otunba Kunle Folarin lauded the Akwa Ibom State Governor for taking the initiative to host the meeting.
Folarin also pledged to assist the growth of the maritime sector of the state.
http://dailytimes.com.ng/article/akwa-ibom-explores-maritime-potential#.TvB9Q5HYAFw.twitter