Ibom Deep Seaport: Akwa Ibom Government makes U – turn, includes host communities in implementation committee

By Dennis Udoma, Uyo

Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom has finally bowed to pressure and enlarged the Ibom Deep Seaport Technical and Implementation Committee.

This came after weeks of accusations and counter accusations between the State Government and Oron ethnic nationalities on the siting of the project earlier slated for Ibaka.

The decision by the Governor is to douse the current tension on the Sea Port’s relocation from Ibaka to Unyienge, still in Mbo LGA.

The additional four persons from the host communities in the enlarge committee is to allow for the commencement of work by the investors.

Chairman, Oro Steering Committee, Amb. Etim Uye was mandated to submit four names from the host communities into the technical and implementation committee of the seaport.

Global Patriot learnt that government made a U – turn at a meeting it had with the representatives of Oro nationalities at Government House in Uyo on Thursday.

Amb. Uye, who was former Commissioner for Works in the old Cross River State, as well as pioneer Rector, Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic, Ikot Osurua, while speaking on behalf of Oro people, disowned the vexatious audio in the internet and apologised to the Governor on the embarrassment it may have caused the government.

Amb. Uye, who chairs the Oro Steering Committee, communicated their preparedness to support the deep sea port and other projects attracted to the area by the State government.

Those in attendance at the meeting were AIG Asuquo Amba, Prince Chris Abasi Eyo, Chief Otu Ita Toyo, Engr. Ita Awak, Ikpoto Okon Osung, Chief Effiong Afiakurue, Dr Etim Amba, Prof. Eka Uwe, Ita Oboho, John Ntekim, Ezekiel Ibok and Omen Bassey.

Others were: the Speaker of Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Hon. Aniekan Bassey, Commissioner for Economic Development and Ibom Deep Sea Port, Mr. Akan Okon, Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Comrade Ini Ememobong, the representative of the traditional institution, HRM (Edidem) Raymond Inyang and the representative of Socio-cultural groups, Akparawa Patrick Udofia.

The non inclusion of host communities in the project implementation committee is said to be largely responsible for the challenges being experienced by the Emmanuel government concerning the seaport project which was originally envisioned by the administration of former Governor (Obong) Victor Attah.