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Akwa Ibom Govt urges indigenes to take advantage of opportunities in maritime sector

Published

2 months ago

May 18, 2025

As the take-off of the Ibom Deep Seaport and the larger Ibom Industrial City, ICC, draws nearer, the Akwa Ibom State government has urged its citizens to equip themselves with requisite skills in the maritime corridor so as to be gainfully employed and profitably engaged when the time comes.

The Commissioner for Special Duties and Ibom Deep Seaport, Comrade Ini Ememobong, made the call on Friday, during a Maritime Trade and Logistics Sensitisation Workshop held in Uyo.

The theme ‘of the event was ‘Harnessing the Economic Potentials of Blue Economy Value Chain in Akwa Ibom State for Productivity and Sustainable Growth’.

The commissioner said the state government decided to organize the workshop so that citizens would gain deeper insights into the maritime and blue economy and encourage a pool of highly skilled manpower for employment at the port and the industries that would be set up.

He said, “While the administration of Pastor Umo Eno is diligently working to bring Ibom Deep Seaport and Ibom Industrial City to reality, it was important to ensure that Akwa Ibom people are prepared and well-positioned to be active players in the maritime sector.*

Also speaking, a lecturer at Maritime Academy, Nigeria, Dr. Friday Ufia, noted that while maritime trade was the exchange of goods and services across the oceans and seas, the logistics was about customer service. He added that there are short courses at the Maritime Academy to equip people in the area to be part of the Ibom Deep Seaport.

Ufia noted that Akwa Ibom people should take the opportunity of the presence of Maritime Academy in the state to get trained on how they can benefit from the Ibom deep seaport even as he noted that the state has the longest coastline of 129km.

In her address titled ‘Maritime logistics’, Aniefiok Iton, who is the President of Brightflow Conglomerate, explained that given the great potentials, the maritime sector, if well harnessed, would surpass the gains of oil exploration.

She described maritime industry as a vital component of global trade, which shipping plays a critical role in the movement of people, commodities, cargo, materials, goods and services across international borders.

On his part, the Rector, Marine and Oceans Academy, Nigeria, Dr. Kingsley Ekwere emphasized on the need for skills acquisition not just onshore but in the waterways.

He said, “There is no greater time to look into this than now that the Ibom Deep Seaport is about to emerge for West Africa. Whatever anybody can do, we can do also, and we should be very interested in skills acquisition to function once the Ibom Deep Seaport is birthed.”

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Alleged Land Grabbing: We have enough evidence to investigate monarch- Delta govt

Published

2 days ago

July 1, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

The Delta State government said it has gotten enough evidence from protesters that would help in its investigation of alleged land grabbing by the traditional ruler of Owa Kingdom, Obi, Emmanuel Efeizomor.

The Special Adviser to the State Governor on Peace Building and Conflict Resolution, Edwin Uzor, leading the inquiry process, confirmed he has received evidential testimonies from some of the aggrieved persons; majority of whom are widows.

While addressing Owa-Oyibu Development Initiative, ADI, which had earlier protested over the matter but soft-pedalled following appeal by the leadership of the State House of Assembly, he said his office has commenced investigative inquiry into the matter.

He assured that the state government would speed up investigation with a view to resolving the crisis and come up with a peaceful resolution.

While enjoining the aggrieved parties to sheath their swords, he assured that the state government would get to the root of the matter. He said the administration of Hon Sheriff Oborevwori was irrevocably committed to ensuring that no Deltan is victimized by anyone on the account of his or her financial or social status.

He enjoined the youths in the community to give the state government the benefits of the doubts by remaining peaceful and calm.

Addressing the over hundred persons, all of whom are indigenes of Owa Kingdom, Uzor said, “we have gotten enough evidence from you that would help us in our investigation process.

“I want to commend you for your peaceful disposition so far. Meanwhile, we wish to appeal that you continue to maintain the existing peace even as we continue in our investigation”.

However, Chairman, Owa-Oyibu Development Initiative, Ogha-ni-ihun Oyibu, Benson Nkeki said the group had decided to embark on a wide protest against the monarch and the palace over alleged high-handedness, bothering largely on land grabbing and forcefully dispossessing land owners of their lands under false pretense.

He said the meeting was an aftermath of the group’s protest on the alleged land grabbing by the traditional ruler of Owa Kingdom, Obi Emmanuel Efeizomor.

Nkeki assured that following the intervention by the state government vis-a-vis the ongoing investigative inquiry into the allegation, the group is committed to giving the state government the benefits of the doubts.

“As law abiding citizens, we are prepared to give the state government the benefit of the doubts. If things are not done the way it should, we will continue with our protest even to the National Assembly level and beyond” Nkeki said.

Columns

Ghana Deports Nigerian Convicted for Smuggling Fake $100,000

Published

2 days ago

July 1, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

A Ghanaian court has ordered the deportation of Nigerian Aremu Adegboyega after convicting him for smuggling counterfeit CFA francs worth over $100,000 through an illegal border route.

Arrested in 2023 at the Aflao border, he was fined GH¢4,440 or faces up to two years in prison if he defaults.

Adegboyega admitted receiving the fake notes from a Nigerian contact on instructions from a suspected mafia figure in Côte d’Ivoire.

Columns

‘Benue most underdeveloped state I’ve visited’ – Verydarkman

Published

3 days ago

July 1, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

Controversial social media personality, Verydarkman, has stirred reactions online after describing Benue State as the most underdeveloped state he has ever visited.

In a viral video shared after a recent visit to the state, the influencer claimed, “Benue is still in the year 1940. It is the most underdeveloped state I have ever been to.”

He went on to lament the state of infrastructure and insecurity in the region, saying investors are discouraged from coming due to deplorable road conditions and safety concerns.

“Investors can’t come because of bad roads and insecurity.

“I’m currently drilling a borehole in Yelwata, but the people can’t continue the work because they are afraid of being killed,” he said.