Why Oro Deserves Ibaka Deep Seaports By Oron Union Technical Committee

THE SUMMARY OF THE AKWA IBOM STATE GOVERNMENT TECHNICAL COMMITTEE ON IBOM DEEP SEAPORT’S VISIT TO ORO

For those who were not in the conference room of Oron Civic Center with us on Saturday 17th April 2021, my friend and brother, and Oro finest journalist, Mr. Joseph Atainyang has said it all. There should be no cause for alarm, everything went out well as planned and prayed about by Oro people.

On that very morning, the Oro Think Tank (OTT) Chairman, CrownPrince Chris Abasi Eyo, Mr. Esu Amba and I arrived the Oron Civic Center around 10am, and set up the multimedia facilities to enable Oro people outside Oro and in diaspora to hook up and be part of the meeting.

Without keeping us waiting, the state government team arrived in company of Oro two prominent persons, Dr Emmanuel Ekuwem and Sen. Akon Eyakenyi, PhD. After few minutes exchange of pleasantries, the OTT Chairman who was also the moderator of the event, called for an Oro anthem which was immediately followed by an opening prayer by Chief Ulo Ante.

After a brief introduction of both the host and the visiting committee, the Chairperson of state government Technical committee, Mfon Usoro was the first to speak. After which Mr. Aniekan Ukpanah took over, and then the Commissioner for Economic Development and Ibom Deep Seaport, Hon. Akan Okon, followed by one of Oro’s finest Engineer, the SSG and a member of the state government Technical committee on IDSP, Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem. The last person to speak from the visiting committee was one of Oro’s successful politician. A former class room teacher who has occupied almost all the offices in her carrier as far as Nigeria politics is concerned, Distinguished Sen. Akon Eyakenyi PhD.

The Chairman of the Oron Union Technical Committee on IDSP and former Managing Director of Niger Dock PLC, Engr. Okon Nkpubre spoke from Lagos via zoom and shared more lights on the relocation from the preferred location at Ibaka bay to where the state government visiting team referred to as “Sea Side”, while the PG of Oron Union summarized Oro’s position before handing over the copy of the petition to the Chairperson of the State Government’s Technical Committee on IDSP, Mfon Usoro.

The summary of the whole matter is that;
(1) The visiting committee has acknowledged the receipt of the petition written by Oro people against the relocation of the Seaport from the preferred location to unknown destination by the state government, where the state government is preparing to construct a dugout port, that is, creating an artificial ocean on a dry land to build the deep Seaport instead of the approved preferred location at Ibaka bay.

(2) Oro people through the President General of Oron Union, His Lordship, Bishop Etim Ante have officially handed over a copy of the petition to the Chairperson of the Seaport Technical Committee, Mfon Usoro.

(3) The Oro people have asked the state government Technical Committee on IDSP to go and study the petition.

(4) The Oro people have also agreed to invite them to come back again and react to the petition presented to them by the PG of Oron Union.

The vote of thanks was given by Chief Okwong, the secretary of the Council of Oro Traditional Rulers (COTR) while the closing prayer was said by an Oro son who is a permanent secretary in the Akwa Ibom State government, Mr. Ekpenyong, immediately after the Oro anthem.

Captain Effiong Eyo rtd.
Member, Oron Union Technical Committee on IDSP.