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

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.

Chief Of The Naval Staff Delivers Lecture To Participants Of Welfare Course 10

Naval War College Nigeria. On Thursday 9 April 2026, the Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, Admiralty Medal, delivered a lecture titled ‘The Chief of the Naval Staff Command Philosophy, Vision and Mission for the Nigerian Navy’ to the participants of Naval Warfare Course (NWC) 10 at the Naval War College Nigeria (NWCN) Auditorium.

The aim of the lecture was to provide participants of NWC 10 with the opportunity to interact directly with the CNS, gain insights from his leadership experience and discuss salient issues affecting the Service.

The lecture highlighted Nigerian Navy (NN) strategic and institutional setting as defined by Nigeria’s maritime geography and domain. Nigeria possesses an extensive maritime space comprising a coastline of 420 nautical miles, approximately 84,000 square nautical miles Exclusive Economic Zone, an extended continental shelf of about 147,000 square nautical miles as well as an intricate network of inland waterways. According to the CNS, these constitute critical national assets that underpin national economic stability, energy security, food security, and regional connectivity. Within this framework, constitutional provisions and the national defence policies assign the NN a pivotal role in safeguarding maritime sovereignty, sea lines of communication and the protection of offshore and inland economic infrastructure.

The lecture also underscored the CNS’ command philosophy for the NN and the CNS’ strategic directive for the NN. The CNS stated that his strategic directive for the NN is designed to consolidate ongoing reforms, optimize fleet readiness and reinforce the NN’s role as a principal guarantor of maritime security and an enabler of Nigeria’s blue economy growth. He further noted that the Directive is aligned with the NN Strategic Plan 2021 – 2030 and the National Defence Policy, representing a continuation of NN’s structured transformation trajectory.

The CNS concluded his lecture by stating that the NN will continue to emplace appropriate strategies and demonstrate undaunting commitment towards ensuring the nation’s maritime area is safe and open for legitimate activities. This resolve is anchored on the fact that protection of the maritime domain is NN’s statutory responsibility coupled with Nigeria’s commitment to leverage the Blue Economy for economic prosperity.

Chief Of The Naval Staff

The lessons drawn from the CNS’ lecture for participants of NWC 10 as future operational level commanders; include need to exercise decisive actions in line with stated intent, rules of engagement and applicable legal frameworks. The need to cultivate professional relationships, promote information sharing as well as exercise sound judgement within clearly defined legal and doctrinal boundaries was also highlighted.

Others include strict adherence to lawful and professional conduct, as well as structured feedback loops, doctrinal adaptation, and strategic relevance in a dynamic threat environment.