Gov. Udom allays fears of host communities over Ibom seaport
Port Harcourt -- Akwa Ibom State Governor Udom Emmanuel has assured that the Ibom Deep Sea Port project will be in the interest of the entire state, calling on all stakeholders to close ranks and work towards its actualisation.
This was the outcome of a breakfast meeting between the Oron leaders and Stakeholders with Governor Emmanuel in Uyo, to address the anxieties of the Oron people, host to the project.
Addressing newsmen after the meeting, Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem, explained that the seaport was part of “Ibom Brand" and should excite every indigene of the state.
Ekuwem said the governor at the meeting, addressed hitherto held misinformation, disinformation or inadequate information on the Ibom Deep Seaport project.
“The meeting with His Excellency the Governor demands that each heart should bear that this seaport spans about 2.5km away from the motorable part of Unyenge road, after Universal Energy in Mbo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.
"Second point, the mangrove swamps where you have office complex are on the hard soil of Mbo and there is no cause for the alarm," he said
Also speaking, leaders of Oron nation, comprising the five Oron local government areas in the state, declared their resolve to support Governor Emmanuel’s drive to actualize the Ibom Deep Seaport project.
President General of Oron Union, Mr. Etim Ante, said the meeting laid to rest anxieties among the Oron people over the port's location, while commending the Governor fod sensitizing them on the issue of location and other strategic features of the seaport.
Ante commended the governor for bringing the seaport dream to reality and affirmed the support of the Oron people to the project.
He called on the investors in the project not to withdraw from the project, assuring that Oron people will welcome all investors and stakeholders involved in the project.