By Patrick Titus, Uyo
The Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Aniekan Umanah has said that the government is committed to ensuring that its infrastructure investments translated into measurable economic benefits, particularly employment, private-sector participation and expanded commercial activity.
Umanah who spoke to journalists on Tuesday in Uyo, the state capital said the strategic projects should be assessed not only by the scale of infrastructure being constructed but also by their capacity to attract investors, strengthen local enterprises and create sustainable opportunities for residents.
He added that the government would continue to communicate project milestones and implementation progress to the public, stressing that transparency and accountability remained important as the administration pursued its development priorities under the ARISE Agenda.
The Information Commissioner maintained that the combination of maritime infrastructure, aviation expansion, hospitality, commercial developments and improved access to justice formed part of a broader strategy to diversify the state’s economy, attract private investment and strengthen Akwa Ibom’s position as a regional destination for trade, tourism and industry.
Umanah was reacting on the score cards of Governor Umo Eno since assumption of office on May 29, 2023 to consolidate on development foundation laid in the state by previous administrations.
Affirming the position, the commissioner for Special Duties and Ibom Deep Seaport, Mr. Emem Bob said the state 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 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 him, 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. 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 statistics show 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.
The terminal, which has five passenger boarding bridges and modern passenger-processing facilities, is expected to support tourism, cargo movement, commerce and investment while improving the state’s international connectivity.
The government said Airbus had inspected the MRO facility and provided adaptation requirements that were being considered, while engagements continued to secure a suitable operator. When operational, the facility is expected to provide aircraft maintenance services, develop technical skills and reduce reliance on overseas maintenance.
It further disclosed that Ibom Air had operated 65,152 scheduled flights safely and carried 4,953,512 passengers cumulatively across its network as of September 2026. The airline’s fleet stood at 10 aircraft, including five acquired by the current administration.
Ibom Air operates to seven domestic destinations and one regional destination, Accra, Ghana, across nine routes. The airline projected that it would reach the five-million-passenger milestone by the end of October 2026, while plans for 2027 include expanding its domestic and international network.
The airline’s operations also provide employment opportunities for Akwa Ibom indigenes. As of August 31, 2026, it employed 753 full-time staff, of whom 478, representing approximately 64 per cent, were indigenes of the state.
The government said it had supported specialists training for aviation personnel, including 14 pilots trained in France, 16 aircraft engineers trained at Ethiopian Aviation University and 10 flight dispatchers trained at the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology. Another 10 young indigenes were undergoing cadet pilot training at the Ethiopian Aviation Academy.
