Gov. Eno Storms Paris With Elite Tech Team; Holds High-Stakes Maritime Sessions to Drive Ibom Deep Sea Port Into Reality

The decades-long quest to actualize the Ibom Deep Sea Port Project has moved into an aggressive international phase, with Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, leading a high-powered technical delegation to Paris, France, to secure global operational partnerships and investment lifelines.

The diplomatic and economic mission, which culminated in an intensive working session on Friday, June 5, 2026, saw the state government interface directly with the leadership of the Africa Global Logistics (AGL) Group. The high-level encounter focused heavily on auditing the newly minted Technical Feasibility Report compiled by the renowned global engineering firm, Worley Parsons. The document establishes a definitive operational roadmap for what is projected to become one of the West African sub-region’s most sophisticated maritime and transshipment transits.

Accompanied by maritime heavyweight and Chairman of the Technical Committee on the Ibom Deep Sea Port, Mrs. Mfon Usoro, Esq., alongside the Secretary to the State Government, Prince Enobong Uwah, Governor Eno unzipped the state’s updated execution manual. Bypassing traditional bureaucratic talking points, the Governor used the Paris assembly to emphasize that his administration’s sudden developmental push is strictly anchored on financial viability, data-driven sustainability, and absolute transparency.

“Our commitment to the actualization of the Ibom Deep Sea Port remains unyielding, but we are executing this with absolute commercial discipline,” Governor Eno declared with absolute candor during the technical brief. “I want to make it clear that this administration will not waste public resources or state money on unviable projects. This port is a marathon, not a sprint, and every single naira deployed must align with international best practices. We are building a robust Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) that guarantees institutional investors safe entry and long-term sustainability.”

The Paris roadshow lands at a critical baseline in the project’s historical timeline. Conceived over twenty years ago, the deep sea port—boasting an enviable natural draft of 72 feet—has faced structural delays across successive administrations. However, under the current 2026 infrastructure calendar, the initiative has gained rapid velocity. The state government has successfully cleared access roads straight into the beachfront portal, finalized extensive geotechnical and geophysical surveys, and structured the project as a comprehensive Free Trade Zone integrated into the broader Ibom Industrial City layout.

Presenting the technical milestones to foreign stakeholders, Committee Chairman Mrs. Mfon Usoro explained that the international bidding process has successfully produced preferred bidders through a highly transparent framework. She detailed that the next critical phase will focus on core maritime infrastructure—including main and secondary breakwaters, container terminals, and specialized naval berths—alongside comprehensive Front-End Engineering Designs (FEED) to facilitate smooth regulatory approvals with the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA).

With the state’s human capital manual already adapting to train local youth for the impending construction phase, the cross-border engagement in France represents a definitive victory for the administration’s investment marketing strategy. By aligning with global logistics giants like AGL, the Akwa Ibom State Government is banking heavily on this updated public-private framework to permanently transform the regional economy, expand Nigeria’s maritime capacity, and lock down an unyielding defensive shield around the state’s economic future.