IBAKA PORT: The relocation of Ibaka Deep Sea Port is being criticized by the groups. A group Conference of Niger Delta Youths Representatives has criticized the Akwa Ibom State government over the relocation of Ibaka Deep Sea Port, in Mbo Local Government Area of the state to Ibeno.
Spokesperson and President of the group, Mr. Harry Johnson, said in Oron that the conference was calling on the Presidency to intervene in the matter to avert what can escalate into bloodshed between brothers.
According to him, some key players in Akwa Ibom government had bribed the Minister of Transport as well as other people who claimed to have contacted foreign consultant and transaction advisers, FELAC Concept and Marine and Transport Business Solutions of Netherlands, to relocate the proposed seaport.
He argued that the reasons which the foreign consultant and transaction advisers gave for the relocation of the sea port were illogical and baseless, adding that Ibaka Deep Sea Port was commercially viable to the Nigerian economy as it is drainage free.
“We are calling on the Presidency to reverse the relocation of Ibaka sea port to Ibaka instead of Ibeno LGA. The Ibaka Deep Sea Port is drainage free and the best sea port in West Africa.
“It is false that Ibaka Sea Port is not commercially viable to Nigerian economy due to its long distance from the sea and the dense population of the area.
“Ibaka Deep Sea Port which is drainage free, have been in Mbo for years, it has got to a point where the port should have started before the relocation issue arises,’’ he said.
Johnson noted that Ibeno would be the third site after Ibaka and Okposo before the inception of the proposed project. He added that the name had been changed from Ibaka to Ibom Sea Port.
