Governor Umo of Akwa Ibom State says he will September 2025 inaugurate the Oron Marine Jetty, a major aquatic commercial hub integrating a ferry terminal and leisure resort.
Governor Eno who announced the inauguration date at the flag-off of the project in Oron on Thursday said the intent was to revitalizing maritime trade and transportation in the coastal region.
The project, according to Governor Eno is expected to create employment opportunities and ease movement across waterways, with over 1000 locals already benefiting from daily jobs.
In his words “You can rest assured that we will fulfill our commitment to the contractor. We are looking forward to returning here between August and September for the commissioning. I’d love to take the ferry to Calabar and back on that day,”
He noted that while the state lacks the financial capacity to construct railways without federal government support, it is maximizing its waterways by introducing passenger ferries. “We will construct our waterways, put ferries on them, and that will be our pride and our joy,” he assured.
The Governor commended Rear Admiral Etop Ebe, Superintendent of the Naval Shipyard in Port Harcourt, for overseeing the production of the state’s first passenger cruise ferry.
He also revealed that the contract for a second ferry would soon be awarded. As part of the project’s sustainability plan, 15 engineers will undergo specialized training to handle maintenance.
The Commissioner for Works, Prof. Eno Ibanga, provided an overview of the infrastructure, which will include steel shore protection, four jetties,
a ferry terminal, cold storage and warehouses, a 5,500-square-meter car park for at least 200 vehicles, internal road networks, and a recreational center designed to attract tourists.
He assured that the project was on course for timely completion.
Also speaking, Deputy Governor, Senator Akon Eyakenyi, who hails from Oron, applauded Governor Eno’s commitment to the area, recalling that Oron was once an economic nerve center in Nigeria. “This project will restore our past glory,” she said.
In his remarks, project contractor and Managing Director of JMK Construction, Mr. Faysal Harb, assured that the work would be completed within six months, thanking the Governor for his confidence in the company.