NNPC Moves To Establish Logistics Base In Ibaka, As Akwa Ibom Donates 2000 Acres

The Nigerian National Petroleum Commission, NNPC, has concluded plans to build a top class logistics base in Ibaka, Mbo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, in the South – South geopolitical zone of Nigeria.

As this is part of the Federal Government’s efforts to develop capacity and grow local content, the NNPC will partner with the Akwa Ibom State Government and also the private sector to establish the logistics base in the region

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, and a Niger Delta son of the soil, former Bayelsa State governor, Timipriye Silva, led the Group Managing Director, Mele Kyari, and board members of the NNPC, on an inspection of the 2000 acres of land contributed by the Government of Akwa Ibom State, headed by His Excellency Udom Emmanuel on Saturday 22nd August 2020.

 

 

A logistics base is an expansive and efficient space built for cargo handling, stevedoring, warehousing, material handling equipment, people and logistics management structures, petroleum and water bunkering, heavy article sorting and transport facilities and others.

The town of Ibaka is said to have a natural feature fit for offshore logistics and deep sea port potential, but efforts to develop an Ibaka Deep Sea Port has been ridden with legal frustrations and systemic administrative corruption for more than a decade.

In 2018, the Federal Government budgeted ₦1 billion towards the development of Ibaka Deep Sea Port in the State of Akwa Ibom. But efforts to have its construction commenced have been stalled.

This initiative by NNPC and the Akwa Ibom State Government will in no small way, give the logistics sector the relief it needs especially for goods meant for the southern and south eastern part of Nigeria. And also, accord Ibaka the attention it needs for the actualisation of its full potential for the economy of the country.

 

Governor Udom Emmanuel of the State insisted that Akwa Ibom State sitting on 25% of Nigeria’s oil and gas reserve, deserves at least a petroleum depot to regig the state economy and open up job opportunities for the youths.

He has also maintained that Akwa Ibom is strategically positioned in the Gulf of Guinea, and as such airlines should have no reason going to other West African countries to refuel or service their aircrafts if the Federal government partners with the state for its rich natural potentials to be effectively utilized.

Government Emmanuel made the call on Friday evening when a delegation the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva led the Board of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, on a courtesy visit on him at Government House, Uyo.

He also advocated that unbundling the oil and gas sector would increase job opportunities and rapid growth of the country’s economy.

The courtesy visit on the Governor was a precursor of a strategic retreat by the egg heads in the management of the country’s petroleum industry, holding in Uyo.

He described the choice of Uyo as significant, explaining that with the developments at the Victor Attah International Airport, the 21 storey smart building, excellent security, good network of roads and other infrastructure, the state has been repositioned for a strategic role as a logistic center of the oil and gas sector.

“The new terminal building we are currently constructing, has the most latest technology and intelligence facilities and when completed, will rank the best seen anywhere in West Africa.”

Harping on the need for partnership for modular refineries, Mr Emmanuel opined that, “modular refineries or petrochemicals should be totally liberated from whatever could be the bottlenecks to create more job opportunities and stimulate a whole lot of economic activities.”

He appealed to the Petroleum Resources management team to look into the vast untapped opportunities in the oil and gas sector with a view to unbundling it for job and wealth creation.

Earlier, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources and leader of the delegation, Chief Timipre Sylva had said the chose Akwa Ibom for their retreat because of the peaceful, scenic environments and rich cultural heritage of the people.

Sylva, who described Akwa Ibom as his second home, being an inlaw of the state, commended the Governor and his people for the peace and developments o far recorded.