ABUJA: Seven port authorities in the world have indicated interests to participate in the development of Ibaka Deep Seaport in Mbo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.
Governor Godswill Akpabio, who stated this on Monday when elders of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from Oro nation paid him a courtesy visit at Government House, Uyo, mentioned Bolorous, a Spanish group among the core investors.
Akpabio, however, commended President Goodluck Jonathan for granting approval for the commencement of Ibaka Deep Seaport and Ibaka Deep Seaport Authority, which confers on the port the status of a Free Trade Zone licence that will enable prospective investors to build and pay no tax for five years.
He recalled that the state government had spent a huge amount of money to secure documents to meet international requirements for the port, and attributed delay in getting approval of the port to strict due process. He said the port has received approvals from Nigerian Port Authority and the Federal Ministries of Finance and Transport.
The governor said the port expected to create 50,000- 100,000 jobs for the youths would complement that of Apapa in Lagos and other ports in the country, calling for sensitisation and education of the youths to guarantee peace and community cooperation in the area.
Akpabio further stated that the Federal Executive Council has approved the establishment of Federal University of Maritime Studies at Oron to offer Ordinary National Diploma, Higher National Diploma and degree to students.
Earlier, the leader of the delegation, Dr. Esin Nkereuwem had lauded the governor for the construction of roads, provision of free education and establishment of Akwa Ibom International Airport, among others in the state.
Nkereuwem, therefore, called on the governor to fully integrate Oro nation into mainstream politics of the state, and appealed to him to redeem a bus pledged to Methodist Church Nigeria, Oro Diocese.
