Deep Seaport Project Missing From Akwa Ibom’s Latest Development Rollout

By Roland Ekama

In a sweeping monthly media briefing on March 2, 2026, at the Government House Press Centre, the Akwa Ibom State government painted a vivid picture of progress under Governor Umo Eno’s ARISE Agenda.

According to a text of the monthly media briefing , sighted by DAILY FOCUS NIGERIA , the Akwa Ibom State government omitted the deep seaport project from its monthly media briefing delivered on Tuesday, March 3, 2026.

From frenzied construction at the ARISE Palm Resort to the fixing of 83 pothole-ridden sections in Uyo and the rollout of eco-friendly CNG mass transit, the administration highlighted a state transformed into one giant construction site.

Yet, amid the applause for roads, bridges, agriculture, healthcare, and youth grants, one ambitious project conspicuously absent from the narrative: the long-awaited deep seaport.

The February briefing, delivered with praise for the governor’s “visionary and audacious leadership” after 33 months in office, ticked off achievements across agriculture, infrastructure, workers’ welfare, education, security, and more.

Officials touted over 1,200 kilometers of roads, 32 bridges, pension backlogs cleared, and even the signing of an MoU for resort management.

Strategic investments like the 18-storey Ibom Tower in Lagos and aviation expansions were front and center, positioning the state as an investment hub.

But the deep seaport—a potential game-changer for the maritime industry—did not make the cut.For stakeholders in Akwa Ibom’s coastal economy, the silence was deafening.

The deep seaport has been touted as a cornerstone for boosting trade, creating jobs, and unlocking the state’s blue economy potential.

Its omission raises questions: Is the project stalled amid funding hurdles or federal delays? Or has it been deprioritized in favour of land-based tourism and hospitality ventures like the upcoming 5,000-capacity convention center and new Ibom Hotels?

Government spokespersons defended the briefing’s focus on “measurable results” from the past month, including N2.3 billion in gratuities and fire-damaged homes rebuilt.

“We’re delivering on 85 Priority Projects,” they emphasized, from model primary healthcare centers to a 4,500-strong Ibom Community Watch. Still, the maritime sector’s absence underscores a broader narrative: while roads connect communities to markets and CNG buses ease urban mobility, the state’s vital waterways and port ambitions remain off the agenda.

“As Akwa Ibom pushes for economic diversification, eyes now turn to whether the deep seaport will resurface in future updates—or if it’s adrift in planning limbo.

For a state with grand visions of tourism, aviation, and agribusiness dominance, ignoring the seas could mean missing the tide.