Ocean Terminal Promoter Urges Private Sector Participation in Akwa Ibom Maritime Sector

ABIOLA Seun

The promoter of the first ever ocean terminal in the country, Mr. Victor Akpanika has called for private sector participation in the maritime sector of the oil and gas rich Akwa Ibom State.

He maintained that the involvement of more private investors in the state maritime sector would do the coastal state good in the short and long run as more Nigerians especially the indigenes of the state would derive immense benefits from it.

In a statement made available to journalists, Akpanika who is the Managing Director of Port Notel Limited also picked holes in the arguments in some quarters that the state does not need more than one seaport due to the dearth of market demands within and outside the country.

Recall that the state governor, Udom Emmanuel informed a delegation of Ibeno Community leaders that sought for the approval of a certificate of occupancy (C-of-O) for the development of Port Notel Ocean Terminal that the state is supporting the development of Ibom Deep Seaport only.

Emmanuel who played host to the Ibeno community leaders recently also maintained that while the Ibom Deep Seaport has gone far with the technical procurement processes completed, the Port Notel project is still at its early planning development phase.

The governor also stated that the state support for only one deep seaport development was because there was no sufficient market space demand to accommodate additional maritime infrastructural projects.

However, Akpanika averred that the argument of insufficient market space demand was not convincing because Nigeria’s maritime domain was large enough to accommodate many players since it was considered the gateway to the West and Central Africa Sub-Regions with a population of about 180 million people, third largest economy in Africa with a rebased gross domestic product (GDP) of over $500 billion and 10th in oil production in the world.

According to him, the country economic strength is dependent on its ability to freely transport goods by sea but owing to its present deficiency in modern maritime infrastructure facilities, it has been unable to properly interface with the global maritime marketplace.

The Port Notel Ocean Terminal promoter stated that the opportunities for additional port capacity in the global market space were quite enormous just as he pointed out that based on empirical maritime statistical evidence, current facts and trends in the sector indicates that African port capacity was seriously lagging behind.

He argued that Nigeria market analysis demand forecast, confirms that static and dynamic capacity potential of brown and green field port projects is less than 10 percent.

His words: “Nigeria currently has sufficient maritime market demand space that is very attractive to port developers, operators, financiers seeking to invest in port terminal and jetty facilities. Several littoral and hinterland states are pushing themselves forward to attract local and foreign investors to come and invest in ocean, coastal, river or inland dry port facilities. Akwa Ibom State stands a better chance of accessing more foreign direct investment (FDI) for maritime infrastructural and industrial projects, provided the private sector is allowed to fully participate and collaborate with the government. Ibeno Local Government Area occupies the longest single stretch of the Atlantic Ocean coastline in Nigeria and one of the highest offshore oil and gas producing community without any single maritime infrastructural project in place”.

He argued that Port Notel Ocean Terminal was a private sector intervention in continuation of former Governor Victor Attah’s vision for a modern offshore ship repair yard industrial complex around Ibeno and Eastern Obolo Local Government Areas to complement the then proposed Ibaka Deep Seaport/Industrial City Development.

According to Akpanika, there is no gain saying that several private groups of local and foreign investors and development partners sensitized by the promoters of Port Notel Ocean Terminal project have given assurances to invest in this multi-billion dollars offshore maritime infrastructure which was conceived ten years ago in conjunction with some Nigerian/Akwa Ibom professionals and foreign maritime experts.

“The project is indeed aimed at satisfying the yearnings and aspirations of the oil producing host communities comprising of Ibeno, Eastern Obolo, Eket, Esit Eket, Onna Mkpat Enin and Ikot Abasi Local Government Areas which were assured by the government of Architect Victor Attah of an Offshore Shipyard Complex and a university of science and technology with biases towards regional maritime capacity building, economic empowerment and infrastructural development to complement Ibaka/Ibom Deep Seaport/Industrial City.”

He maintained that the Port Notel Ocean Terminal facility was intended as a more cost effective logistic support platform for what he called the “ultra-deep offshore oil and gas industry” in the Gulf of Guinea.

Akpanika also pointed out that several foreign and local professionals, consulting firms and service providers have been engaged to render various types of services by the project promoters.

“So many Nigerian/Akwa Ibom families, the immediate host communities and businesses directly or indirectly involved are anxiously waiting for the completion of the project planning, preparation and permitting documentation activities, and Akwa Ibom State Government endorsement and issuance of C-of-O for the project already acquired 245 hectares waterfront parcel of land near Ntafre community as entry point connecting bridge to the offshore artificial island.

“The approval of the C-of-O for Port Notel Ocean Terminal is one of the final proof and assurance to the international community, the project foreign technical and financial development partners and investors that the state government actually supports and willing to collaborate with the private sector to jointly develop the Akwa Ibom State maritime sector.”

Enumerating many other states in the country presently having more than one seaport project, he argued that Akwa Ibom State, particularly the Ibeno and Eastern Obolo Local Government Areas deserve at least one major maritime infrastructure project. These include Delta, Rivers, Lagos, and Bayelsa States.

According to him, the Rivers State Government, for example, where the Federal Government currently owns two operational port terminal facilities is aggressively wooing the private sector, port developers and investors to come and establish more port terminal facilities. So far, the state has more than four port terminal and jetty facilities. Port Notel Ocean Terminal is actually complementing Ibom deep seaport and gives the state added advantage to finally assume its rightful place as a major player in the global maritime industry.

He maintained that Nigeria is not properly interfaced in Africa and the global marketplace pointing out when properly interfaced, the country’s seaports can benefit immensely as a vibrant maritime regional trans-shipment hub in Africa, thereby enhancing any port economic position.

“There is enough market space demand for every interested port developer with the financial capacity and capability to profitably invest in maritime infrastructure in any suitable location of preference”, he said.