In a concerted effort to ensure a hitch-free take-off of Nigeria’s first deep seaport situated in Ibaka, Akwa Ibom State, the management of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has begun what it described as “high level consultation” with the Akwa Ibom State Government.

This is coming on the heels of an earlier pledge by the Federal Government to ensure a speedy take off of the project. Immediate Minister of Transport, Alhaji Yusuf Suleiman, had earlier expressed the readiness of the Federal Government to the development of Green Fields as means of putting in place new infrastructure to replace the decaying ports across the country, particularly, Port Harcourt and Lagos.

Suleiman, who disclosed this during his 2011 ministerial scorecard in Abuja, listed the construction of Ibaka deep seaport as one of the new major ports on the card of the Federal Government.

The management of NPA, in a statement issued in Lagos, said the Authority has made a formal request to the Akwa Ibom State government for 5,138 hectares of land for the development of the deep sea port in Ibaka.

General Manager, Public Affairs, Chief Michael Ajayi, in a statement said NPA Managing Director, Engr Omar Suleiman told the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Chief Godswill Akpabio, that the authority would partner with the state government to realise the aspiration of establishing the project considering its immense benefits and potentials to not only the state but the entire country.

Ajayi quoted Suleiman assuring Akpabio that the technical findings on the project revealed that the state has met the preliminary criteria for the project. While assuring the Governor that the NPA would not only support the project when it comes on stream but would also do everything possible to ensure its steady progress and early completion.

He informed the governor that the authority would send a high powered delegation to the state for further discussions on the project to ensure its early commencement and therefore requested for the earliest invitation from the Governor for a visit to the state to facilitate further discussions on the commencement of the project.

Governor Akpabio, in his response, expressed the gratitude of the people and Government of Akwa ibom State for the enthusiasm shown by the authority for the project. The governor told Suleiman that the State Government would immediately allocate the required hectares for the deep sea port project at Ibaka, considering the tremendous potentials of the project to the state and the nation at large.

Akpabio, who said the State Government was anxious to see the commencement of the project and its early completion, reiterated the government’s determination to cooperate and partner with the presidency, the Federal Ministry of Transport and the NPA as well as other relevant government agencies to ensure the success of the project.

He assured Suleiman that the State Government cannot wait to receive the delegation of the authority in the State to further discuss the issue.