Ibom Deep Seaport: Umo Eno Receives Feasibility Report, Assures Project Will Materialize

Governor Umo Eno assured that the Project “Ibom Deep Seaport” will materialize

1. Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has reiterated his administration’s commitment to the realization of the Ibom Deep Seaport Project, expressing confidence that the initiative, which started over 20 years ago, will see the light of day. The Governor made the assurance on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, at the Banquet Hall of Government House, Uyo, during the presentation of the project’s feasibility report by the Technical Committee.

2. Receiving the report, the Governor applauded the Committee for their detailed and professional work, commending their dedication and commitment to ensuring the success of the project.

3. Presenting the report, the Committee Chairman, Mrs. Mfon Usoro, a maritime lawyer and former Director General of NIMASA, said the project is designed to drive economic growth, expand Nigeria’s port capacity, and improve ease of doing business through a Public-Private Partnership model. She noted that the seaport would accelerate industrialization by integrating with the Ibom Industrial City, and as a Free Trade Zone, it is positioned to become a major transshipment hub and one of the largest deep-sea ports in the region.

4. Governor Eno paid tribute to past leaders who laid the foundation for the project, including former Governor Victor Attah, Senate President and former Governor Godswill Akpabio, and immediate past Governor Udom Emmanuel. He cautioned against politicizing the project, emphasizing that deep seaport development is “not a sprint but a marathon.”

5. He highlighted decisive steps taken by his administration, including funding a full feasibility study, preparing investor fact sheets, constructing access roads, conducting geophysical and geotechnical studies, and establishing a project office in the State. Governor Eno noted the administration’s integration of land, air, and maritime sectors, citing over 1,300 kilometers of roads, expansion of Ibom Air, upgrades at Victor Attah International Airport, and ongoing maritime investments in Oron.

6. Reaffirming his results-driven approach, Governor Eno said, “We decided to bring everyone together and move all aspects of the deep seaport project to the front burner to enable us aggregate exactly what we need to do with timelines.” He tasked the Committee to actively engage investors and the people, adding, “If we succeed with this project, Akwa Ibom wins.”

7. The Governor also directed the Hon. Commissioner for Special Duties to develop training initiatives for youths, ensuring that human capital needs are met and a skilled workforce is available for the construction phase and beyond.

8. Mrs. Usoro detailed milestones already achieved, including the engagement of Programme Managers, appointment of global transaction advisors, completion of feasibility studies, due diligence, financial modeling, and a transparent international bidding process that produced preferred bidders.

9. She highlighted the project’s priority phases, starting with infrastructure development, including container terminals, main and secondary breakwaters, and Navy berths. Other key activities include Front-End Engineering Design (FEED), market and financial studies, port access road construction, investment roadshows, marketing of the Ibom Industrial City, land acquisition, regularization of Free Trade Zone licenses with the Nigerian Export Processing Zones Authority, and re-engagement with the Nigerian Ports Authority on concession negotiations.

10. She appealed for patience from the people, explaining that port development is complex and time-consuming, noting that similar projects globally often take up to 20 years from conception to commissioning.

Ibom Deep Seaport

11. The event was attended by top government functionaries and stakeholders, including Deputy Governor Akon Eyakenyi, Coordinator of the Office of the First Lady Lady Helen Eno Obareki, Speaker of the State House of Assembly Udeme Otong, House Leader Otobong Bob, former Ministers Umana Okon Umana and Don Etiebet, former Deputy Governor Nsima Ekere, Senator Effiong Bob, Secretary to the State Government Enobong Uwah, Head of Civil Service Elsie Peters, Executive Assistant/Chief Delivery Advisor Aniefiok Johnson, commissioners, and the 31 local government chairmen.

12. Representatives of the Federal Ministry of Finance Incorporated and relevant government agencies were also present, highlighting the collaborative effort between the state, federal agencies, and private investors to ensure the successful realization of the Ibom Deep Seaport Project.

Signed:
Hon. Aniekan Umanah
Commissioner for Information

IGP Receives Civil Society Delegations, Vows Tougher Police Accountability Mechanism

Tougher police accountability mechanism. The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, psc (+), NPM, today received a distinguished delegation of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) led by human rights lawyer, Femi Falana SAN, at the Force Headquarters, Abuja.

The delegation comprised prominent figures from the legal, human rights, governance, and security reform sectors. Notable members included Mr. Femi Falana, SAN; Mr. Adesina Oke, Esq. of the National Association of Democratic Lawyers (NADL); Barr. Okeke Chinwike of the African Law Foundation (AFRILAW); Mr. Barbara S. Magaji of Amnesty International; Mr. Anietie Ewang of Human Rights Watch (HRW); Mr. Samson Itodo, Executive Director of Yiaga Africa; Mr. Bathsheba Taglia of CISLAC/Transparency International Nigeria; Mrs. Kemi Okenyodo, Executive Director of Partners West Africa-Nigeria (PWAN); and Dr. Itia Otabor of the African Centre for Leadership, Strategy & Development (Centre LSD).

In his remarks, Femi Falana SAN congratulated IGP Disu on his appointment and commended his vision of policing as a mission rooted in the protection of human rights. He urged strict compliance with the Nigeria Police Act 2020, particularly provisions on family notification upon arrest, suspects’ rights to legal representation, and the prohibition of arrests for civil wrongs. Falana further called for stronger accountability measures to ensure officers respect constitutional guarantees and are held liable in cases of misconduct.

Responding, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu expressed deep appreciation for the engagement of civil society and reaffirmed his commitment to people-centered policing. He emphasized that effective policing must address both major crimes and the everyday concerns of citizens.

IGP Receives Civil Society Delegations

The IGP assured the delegation of ongoing reforms, including updated training manuals, improved officer welfare, and strict directives against interference in civil matters. The IGP pledged transparency and accountability and committed to improving the Complaint Response Unit and Monitoring Unit.

The Inspector-General expressed confidence that effective policing is attainable and reaffirmed that the Nigeria Police Force remains steadfast in prioritizing accountability, transparency, and the protection of human rights across all its operations.

DCP Anthony Okon Placid, psc (+), mni
Force Public Relations Officer
Force Headquarters, Abuja
9th April 2026

Ola Olukoyede Tasks Media On Ethical Standards, Better Reportage Of Anti-Corruption Fight

Better reportage of anti-corruption fight. The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ola Olukoyede has charged the media to uphold editorial integrity and constructive reportage towards the enhancement of the fight against corruption, economic and financial crimes.

He gave the charge on Thursday, April 9, 2026 in a Goodwill Message at the “VON Forum 2025” themed “51 Years of Nigeria’s Role in Deepening Democratic Stability in ECOWAS,” organized in Abuja by the Voice of Nigeria, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation.

The EFCC boss cited an incident in which the Commission arrested a politically exposed person for his involvement in the disappearance of about $35 million from national treasury, meant for the establishment a refinery and regretted that the reportage that broke out in the newspapers the following day was “EFCC Witch-hunts Opposition,” bemoaning the fact that the media spared no time to look at the facts that necessitated the arrest.

While declaring that the anti-corruption fight is insulated from partisan politics and yielding impressive results, he called on all citizens and sectors of the polity, especially the media to support it.

“That edifice that VON is occupying is a proceeds of crime that was recovered from a former government official. It is evidence that the war against economic and financial crime is working. As Nigerians, let us work together for the stability of this country and one of the best methods is through the media. Let our reporting be responsible. When I arraign members of the ruling party, nobody makes noise but the moment I see somebody who belongs to the other side that stole money and take him to court, all hell will break loose. I want to believe that you are raising ethical standards to reinforce editorial integrity,” he said.

Besides corruption, he pointed to the evil of terrorist financing and disclosed that the Network of National Anti-Corruption Institutions in West Africa, NACIWA, which he chairs, was established to lead the charge of anti-corruption agencies in the sub-region against terrorist financing.

“I am happy to let you know that we have established what we call the “Network of Anti-corruption Agencies and Institutions in West Africa, which I currently lead to drive efforts against terrorist financing. ECOWAS has adopted our protocol, so within the next few months we will commence operations, so that there will be no embargo for us going to other parts of West Africa to carry out investigations. We are going to share intelligence and evidence that will help us to work together to stabilize this part of Africa. This is our next focus,” he said.

Ola Olukoyede

In his welcome address, the Director General/CEO, Voice of Nigeria, Mallam Jibrin Baba Ndace appreciated Olukoyede for honouring his invitation and stated that Nigeria as a founding member of ECOWAS has consistently played a defining role in the stability of the region, ranging from peace-keeping missions to diplomatic interventions in the past 50 years.

Such interventions he said, include those in Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Ghana, Cameroon, Mali, Guinea Bissau, Sierra Leone and Liberia, adding that these efforts not only show that Nigeria is the pillar of ECOWAS but points to the enduring commitment of the country to peace, democracy and regional stability.