Akwa Ibom Deep Seaport: The Making Of An African Dubai

Akwa Ibom Deep Seaport, an initiative of governor Udom Emmanuel’s administration with concurrent approval from federal government, is the final statement that Akwa Ibom is becoming Africa’s foremost investment destination. In this piece, made available to OpenLife Nigeria, Reverend Richard Peters offers insights into the working mechanism of Udomi Emmanuel

Akwa Ibom State under the Udom Emmanuel’s administration is gradually becoming a destination for investors and entrepreneurs owing to the huge development in agro sector, establishment of industries, economic, business-friendly policies of the government and good road network.

And as a show of support and solidarity to the result-oriented administration of Governor Emmanuel, the Federal Government recently gave approval to the business case of Ibom Deep Seaport project, which has received much attention from this present administration. This approval is coming on the heels of the vigorous push by the Udom Emmanuel led administration for the actualization of this long awaited vision. It will be recalled that previous administrations since 1999 have made several attempts at kick starting the seaport, without success.

The huge attention given to the project by the present administration is necessitated by the myriad of benefits the project will bring to the state and Nigeria in general, on Completion.

The Ibom deep seaport has been described by the Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Economic Development, Akan Okon as a project that will be of immense value to Nigeria, in terms of employment generation, increase in port capacity, and also improve efficiency in shipping business.

He explained that the deep seaport, which is designed for very large vessels that can load over 13,000 containers in one voyage, will also serve as a trans-shipment port as smaller vessels will be used to lighter cargoes from the mega vessels to seaports, and river ports closer to the consignee’s within and outside Nigeria.

Akwa Ibom State is becoming the Dubai of Nigeria, and has seen tremendous increase in population as a result of the safety and government-investor friendly disposition enjoyed in the state.

From a small fishing village, Dubai has become the heartbeat of business. Today, Dubai is a city of skyscrapers, ports, and beaches, where big business takes place alongside sun-seeking tourism. Because of its large expatriate population, it feels like a Middle Eastern melting pot, and the atmosphere is generally tolerant, noted a public affairs commentator, Eric George.

The same can be said of America.
The modern American economy traces its roots to the quest of European settlers for economic gain in the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries. The New World then progressed from a marginally successful colonial economy to a small, independent farming economy and, eventually, to a highly complex industrial economy.

This is what Akwa Ibom State under Governor Emmanuel is evolving into. The industrial revolution he has brought to the state, and in most cases through the relationship he built during his years in the banking sector is what is strategically positioning and expanding our economy, on the same path that Dubai and the US started their journey from.

One may mock this assertion when a comparison between what is happening now in the US and Dubai, and what we have today in Akwa Ibom is made.
We may not have been there now, but truly, we are on our shortest route to greater economic glories.

Rome was not built in a day. Today’s Dubai is not a year’s plan. Infact, it was a 20- year plan, and it took more than 20 years for them to get to where they are today.

Governor Emmanuel has already positioned Akwa Ibom on a good standpoint through the Akwa Ibom Deep Seaport, and by 2050, history will speak loud of this noble economic foundation led by Gov. Emmanuel.

There’s no greater glory that a leader would leave behind, than to leave a generational legacy of self independence, economic renaissance, entrepreneural development and mental reorientation.

With the huge backing of the Federal Government towards the actualization of the Ibom Deep Seaport, Governor Udom Emmanuel will soon layout a full scale implementation plan for both the Deep sea port and the Liberty Oil and Gas free Zone, also recently approved for commencement, observed the Information and Strategy Commissioner, Ini Ememobong.

Indeed, these are best times to live as Akwa Ibomites. In our time, an economic roadmap for the Akwa Ibom of our dream is laid, through the able hand of our dear visionary leader, Governor Udom Emmanuel.