The Akwa Ibom State Government on Monday disclosed that it has begun the process of identifying preferred bidders for the proposed Ibom Deep Seaport, a project projected to generate more than 300,000 direct and indirect jobs between 2027 and 2050.
The government disclosed this during a media briefing on strategic infrastructure projects under Governor Umo Eno’s ARISE Agenda, 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 adjoining Ibom Industrial City are designed to establish a maritime, manufacturing and logistics hub in the state, with plans covering 14,517 hectares, including 2,565 hectares designated for the port.
According to the government, the port master plan, site-specific studies and feasibility studies have been completed. The project’s Full Business Case has also received approval from the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission and the Federal Executive Council.
The planned port infrastructure includes a 20-kilometre approach channel, a depth of 18.24 metres and a 600-metre turning basin to support maritime operations.
The adjoining industrial city is expected to accommodate petrochemical industries, agro-processing, marine services and automobile assembly, supported by a proposed 2,151-megawatt power plant.
The government also plans to pursue Free Trade Zone status for the development and connect the port and industrial city to road, rail and Victor Attah International Airport infrastructure to facilitate trade and movement of goods.
The latest disclosure places bidder selection among the next steps outlined for the project, although the government’s briefing did not identify prospective bidders or provide a timeline for the award of contracts.
Separately, the government reported that Victor Attah International Airport recorded 1,386,060 domestic passenger movements between 2023 and September 2026, while international passenger traffic reached 1,998 between May and September 2026.
The airport’s new International Smart Terminal, a three-level facility covering 27,173 square metres and designed to handle up to three million passengers annually, began international operations on May 2, 2026, with an inaugural Ibom Air flight to Accra, Ghana. Domestic operations from the terminal commenced in June.
The proposed seaport and industrial city are expected to complement the airport by linking maritime trade, industrial production and air transport. The projected employment gains and wider economic benefits, however, will depend on the project’s implementation and the eventual establishment of its planned industrial and logistics operations.
