AMAECHI RECEIVES IBOM DEEP SEA PORT FULL BUSINESS CERTIFICATE FROM ICRC

By Innocent Orok

Rotimi Amaechi, Minister of Transportation

The Federal Government is set to move to the next level of the procurement process of the Ibom Deep Water Port (IDWP) through Public Private Partnership (PPP).

This was made known by the Director General of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), Mr Chidi Izuwah during the presentation of the Full Business Case Compliance Certificate for the project to the Honourable Minister of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, Monday in Abuja.

The IDWP project involves the development of a Greenfield Deep Sea Port and accompanying Free Trade Zone (FTZ) in Akwa Ibom State in the South-South geopolitical zone of Nigeria.
The proposed Port and FTZ are part of the planned Ibom Industrial City initiative that will be established on a 14,400 hectare site donated by the Akwa Ibom State Government.

During the presentation, the ICRC, DG noted that ‘The IDWP project is planned to become a major national and regional economic gateway that will provide additional container handling capacity for the country.

“In addition to containers, the IDWP is expected to handle Petroleum products, Crude oil, Natural gas, Vehicles and Bulk trade in natural resources, thereby expanding and further developing the Nation’s transport sector’, he said.

The DG appreciated tremendously the leadership that the Federal Ministry of Transportation (FMOT), through the able and tireless efforts of the Minister of Transportation has provided for the project.

The ICRC boss also appreciated the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) Hadiza Bala Usman and the Akwa Ibom State govornor Mr Udom Emmanuel for all their efforts in getting the project to this point.

It may be recalled that Bollore/Power China emerged the preferred bidders for the Ibom Deep Sea Ports following the transparent bidding process that held earlier. The Federal Executive Council (FEC) presentation and approval as well as commercial close is the next stage for the project.