The Akwa Ibom State Government says the Ibom Deep Seaport Project (IDSP) will be completed in no time.
Speaking on Thursday, 15th August, with staff of the Ministry of Economic Development and Ibom Deep Seaport, Mr. Akan Okon, said the project is 95 per cent completed.
Okon, who is the Commissioner for Economic Development and Ibom Deep Seaport stated that the project is being developed as a key component of the state’s economic empowerment plans.
He said the Akwa Ibom State Government is only awaiting approval from the Federal Government of Nigeria for the multi-billion dollars project to take off.
“The IDSP project which is being developed by the Akwa Ibom State Government through a public-private partnership (PPP) initiative, would have the capacity of employing a minimum of 5,000 workers when it becomes fully operational.”
Completing the Ibom deep seaport is one of the priorities of Governor Udom Emmanuel completion agenda in 2023, the second term manifesto of the governor states.
In 2018, a consortium from China, Bollore and Power China won the bid to develop the seaport.
This year, the State government created named the seaport project as part of its ministry of economic development.
The Ibom deep seaport is designed as a transshipment port where very large vessels that can load up to 13,000 containers in one voyage, according information promoted by the State government.
IDSP is a Federal Government project driven by the Federal Ministry of Transportation, Akwa Ibom State & Nigerian Port Authority
Upon its final completion, the Federal Government of Nigeria will own the Ibom Deep seaport through the Nigeria Ports Authority, and in partnership with the Akwa Ibom State Government and private investors.