By Abasi Ita
Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River State has commended the Federal Government for its support for the Bakassi Deep Seaport project, describing the development as a major step toward positioning Nigeria as a regional hub for maritime activities.
The governor gave the commendation in Abuja on Wednesday after receiving the Certificate of Compliance for the project from the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, at the ministry’s headquarters. He described the Bakassi Deep Seaport as a strategic maritime infrastructure expected to attract about 3.5 billion dollars in private investment.
The presentation followed the recent approval of the Bakassi Deep Seaport by the Federal Executive Council as one of three major transformative Public Private Partnership projects.
Speaking during the ceremony, Otu said the approval marked a significant milestone, noting that Cross River State is strategically positioned to help Nigeria unlock its maritime potential, similar to other coastal nations with strong blue economies. He stressed that with rapid population growth and limited resources, projects such as the deep seaport offer opportunities for increased investment and job creation.
According to him, the issuance of the certificate further strengthens the state’s resolve to drive marine and blue economy development, expressing confidence that the collaboration between the ministry and private sector partners will ensure timely delivery of the project.
Otu also praised President Bola Tinubu for establishing the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy and for appointing a minister with the capacity to drive the sector’s growth.
In his remarks, Minister Oyetola commended Governor Otu’s vision and commitment to the Bakassi Deep Seaport, noting that the project aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Tinubu. He expressed optimism that the seaport would boost economic activities and improve livelihoods in Cross River State and beyond.
The minister said the Federal Government would continue to support the project, adding that although several similar projects are underway across the country, the Bakassi Deep Seaport has strong prospects of being the first to be completed.
Also speaking, the Director General of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission, Dr. Jobson Osedion Ewalefoh, described the project as a game changer for Nigeria’s maritime and logistics sector. He said the seaport would serve as a new maritime gateway for the North Central and North East regions while functioning as a major logistics hub for West and Central Africa.
Ewalefoh added that the greenfield project is designed to accommodate large vessels and will be integrated with an industrial cluster and a Free Trade Zone, creating thousands of jobs and strengthening Nigeria’s position in the global maritime industry.