Scholars, CSOs, Group Call For Unbundling Of A’Ibom Ministry Of Special Duties & Ibom Deep Seaport

A coalition of stakeholders, including university dons, civil liberty organisations, marine experts, and members of the Association of Eket Senatorial District Media Professionals, has called on the governor of Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Umo Eno, PhD, to think in the direction of unbundling the Ministry of Special Duties and Ibom Deep Seaport and replacing it with the Ministry of Special Duties, Marine and Blue Economy.

They noted that the unbundling will widen the scope of the ministry to more effectively and comprehensively capture what they called “composite needs and pressing realities on the ground”, which the present ministry, as it stands, cannot address.

They also called for the establishment of Akwa Ibom State Oil-Producing Host Communities, as in other states in the Niger Delta, as well as the establishment of the Akwa Ibom State Solid Minerals Investment Agency.

The proposals were contained in a communique issued at the end of a one-day symposium on the theme: “Harnessing Akwa Ibom South Natural Resources: The Role of Media Professionals”, held at Edens Hotels & Suites, Eket, recently.

The programme was jointly organised by the Solid Minerals Development Fund (SMDF), Abuja, and the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and facilitated by the senator representing Akwa Ibom South Senatorial District and chairman, Senate Committee on Solid Minerals, Sen. Ekong Sampson.

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In attendance were over 400 participants, including renowned communication scholars, media professionals, government functionaries, civil liberty organisations, and students drawn from tertiary institutions.

The communique argued that the present Ministry of Special Duties and Ibom Deep Seaport are narrow in terms of preference and limited by nomenclature, and that Ibom Deep Seaport should be seen as a project by itself, domiciled in the proposed new ministry, with effective oversight or supervisory functions by the commissioner.

The communique also decried the abundant but untapped solid mineral resources in Eket Senatorial District, in particular, and Akwa Ibom State in general. It also cautioned the state government against total and reckless dependence on oil in neglect of allied sectors with competitive and complementary potential to generate income, create employment and catalyse growth and development in the state to complement the oil and gas sector.

Papers presented during the symposium include “Digital Media and Cyber Bullying – Analysing the Legal Framework”, by Prof. Peter Esuh, professor of corporate communication, applied marketing communication, Rhetoric and Semiotics, University of Uyo; and “From Potential to Partnership – Unlocking Akwa Ibom Solid Minerals Through Investor Collaboration”, by Dr Christopher Okon, Public Relations and Marketing Communications consultant.

Other papers were “Exploring the Blue Economy and Maritime Potentials of Akwa Ibom South Senatorial District”, by Prof. Nsikak Bassey, professor of Geology and geophysics/director of Research and Innovations, Akwa Ibom State University (AKSU); and “Exploring the Blue Economy and Maritime Potentials of Akwa Ibom South Senatorial District”, by Prof. Ita Ewa-Oboho, professor of Oceanography and Marine Environmental Studies, also of AKSU.

In his tone-setting remark, the chairman of the Central Planning Committee for the Symposium, Prof. Herbert Bartha of the University of Uyo, described the symposium as “a deliberate convening of minds as journalists, commentators and policy-makers who are the eyes and ears of the masses”.

He noted that the theme of the symposium was apt and timely in view of the potential benefits the knowledge gathered therein shall bring to Eket Senatorial District, Akwa Ibom State, and Nigeria at large, about accurate data and policy decisions on the solid minerals sector.

Emphasising the significance of the symposium while presenting his welcome address, the chairman of the Association of Eket Senatorial District Media Professionals, Dr Edet Okpo, said it was a robust intellectual communion of empirical ideas aimed at drawing the attention of government and prospective investors to the solid minerals sector.

“Akwa Ibom South is endowed with more than political significance. Our land harbours a stupendous amount of solid minerals, our coastline opens to the Atlantic, and our people possess the knowledge and enterprise to convert these assets to prosperity. Yet, for too long, the story of our resources has been that of extraction without inclusion, of potential without coordination and proper utilisation for global competitiveness.

“This association, as a megaphone, cannot afford to be passive observers in this cycle of negligence. We therefore need exposures like this symposium to equip and remind us of our specific and collective role in setting the agenda and guiding public discourse on critical issues.”

Okpo, who thanked and commended Governor Umo Eno for his people-inclined and inclusive agenda, noted that with the ongoing construction of a world-class Oron Marine Terminal, the Nsit Atai-Okobo Road, and other projects under the ARISE Agenda, the governor is already demonstrating his practical commitment to diversifying the state economy through the development of the Blue Economy and allied sectors.

In his remark after receiving an award of excellence in human capacity development and a vote of confidence by the Association of Akwa Ibom South Senatorial District Media Professionals, Sen. Ekong Sampson lauded the organisers of the event and promised to do more in promoting professionalism through capacity building and impacting lives in Eket Senatorial District as part of his representation.

He, however, emphasised the role of the media in setting the agenda and generating discourse on solid minerals exploration and exploitation as a sustainable alternative to liquid minerals by stakeholders.

Our reporter who covered the event reported that the symposium essentially raised critical questions and proffered recommendations to guide further narratives on how best to harness the abundant solid minerals in Akwa Ibom State. The latest symposium was the third in a series, either independently sponsored or facilitated by Senator Sampson in 2026 alone.

Goodwill messages were given by the Akwa Ibom State commissioner for sports, Elder Paul Bassey; executive chairman, Urue Offong/Oruko Local Government Area, Chief Uno Etim Uno; and Dr Essien Ndueso, who doubles as the BOT chairman of the Association of Eket Senatorial District Media Professionals and SSA to the governor on research and documentation.