Akwa Ibom State government is inching closer to the actualization of the Ibom Deep Seaport project following the approval of a committee to interface with the Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) Committee for implementation of the project.
The State Executive Council approved the setting up of the joint committee to ensure a smooth take-off of the project, following the report presented to the Council by the Chairman Technical Committee on Ibom Deep Seaport Actualisation and Development, Mrs. Mfon Usoro.
The State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Comrade Ini Ememobong, while briefing Government House correspondents after the State Executive Council meeting on Monday evening, said all steps towards the actualization of the deep seaport project was on track.
The Joint Project Committee by the NPA is to serve as a one-stop-shop for all matters concerning the seaport between the Federal and State governments, while the State-instituted Committee will interface with local stakeholders to ensure smooth take-off of the seaport project.
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The report on the Ibom Deep Seaport implementation presented by the chairman of the Technical Committee had informed the Council that the Nigeria Ports Authority had set up a Joint Project Committee for the Deep Seaport and also said that every step to be taken on that project was on track.
“To further push the project, Council has set up a committee to interface with local stakeholders for a smooth takeoff of that project”, the Commissioner explained.
Speaking further on resolutions reached at the meeting, the Information boss said the Council undertook a review of quarterly performance reports of Ministries, Departments and Agencies and called for increased efforts towards the Completion Agenda.
The Commissioner also disclosed that for better alignment of job functions, the Governor in Council directed that the Directorate of Solid Minerals be moved from the Ministry of Transports to the Ministry of Environment.
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Receiving a scorecard of the first 120 days of the state owned hospitality outfit under the current management, the Icon Group, the council expressed satisfaction with the work done so far and challenged the new managers to improve upon the reports.
The Technical Committee on Agriculture and Food Sufficiency was also mandated to double their efforts for the benefit of the state and the citizenry, as the Chairman, Professor Edet Udoh, presented the Committee’s report to the Executive Council.
