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Government seeks preferred bidders for the proposed Ibom Deep Seaport after securing key federal approvals.
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Ibom Deep Seaport and Industrial City project projected to generate over 300,000 direct and indirect jobs between 2027 and 2050.
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Victor Attah International Airport records 1,386,060 domestic passengers between 2023 and September 2026.
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Ibom Air operates 10 aircraft and has transported 4.95 million passengers cumulatively across its network.
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Ibom International Hotel and Convention Centre target completion in December 2026, while the Court of Appeal Complex in Uyo is 40 per cent complete.
October 19, (THEWILL) – The Akwa Ibom State Government say it has commenced the process of sourcing preferred bidders for the proposed Ibom Deep Seaport, a flagship maritime and industrial development projected to generate more than 300,000 direct and indirect jobs between 2027 and 2050.
The government disclosed this during an enlarged media briefing on strategic infrastructure projects being implemented under the ARISE Agenda of Governor Umo Eno, organised by the Ministry of Special Duties and Ibom Deep Seaport in collaboration with the Ministry of Aviation and Airport Development.
The proposed seaport and Ibom Industrial City are expected to position the state as a major maritime, manufacturing and logistics destination, with a planned 14,517-hectare industrial city incorporating a 2,565-hectare port area.
According to the briefing, the port master plan, site-specific studies and feasibility studies have been completed, while the Full Business Case has received approvals from the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) and the Federal Executive Council (FEC).
The proposed port infrastructure includes a 20-kilometre approach channel, a depth of 18.24 metres, and a 600-metre turning basin designed to accommodate maritime operations.
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The industrial city is planned around petrochemicals, agro-processing, marine services and automobile assembly, supported by a proposed 2,151-megawatt power plant.
The project is also expected to benefit from its proposed Free Trade Zone status and planned multimodal connections to road, rail and Victor Attah International Airport, providing a platform for international trade, industrial production and investment.
In the aviation sector, the state government reported that Victor Attah International Airport recorded 1,386,060 domestic passenger movements between 2023 and September 2026, while international passenger traffic stood at 1,998 between May and September 2026.
The airport’s new International Smart Terminal, a three-level facility measuring 27,173 square metres and designed to handle up to three million passengers annually, commenced international operations with an inaugural Ibom Air flight to Accra, Ghana, on May 2, 2026. Domestic operations from the terminal began in June.
