The State Director of National Orientation Agency, (NOA) Mr Enoh Uyoh, weekend, called for maritime security beef up across the country’s territorial waters particularly in Akwa Ibom state.
Uyoh made the disclosure during a Maritime Business/International Trade Sensitisation Forum organised by Bright Flow Logistics Services and Nigeria Private Sector Alliance in collaboration with NOA in Uyo.
He said some illegal foreign trawlers from China and Europe were infiltrating the Ibaka axis of the nation’s territorial waters conducting uninterrupted fishing.
Uyoh also expressed optimism that with the siting of the Deep Seaport at Ibaka, illegal fishing which has led to the country’s loss of approximately N70 millio annually would be forestalled.
According to him, “Nigeria looses approximately $70 million to illegal fishing by the Chinese and European trawlers in our territorial waters. The siting of Ibom Deep Seaport at Ibaka in Mbo Local Government will to a large extend provide the much-needed security in the region as much attention will be paid to the security of vessels, and maritime activities by local fishermen will receive a boost.”
The director noted that maritime business remained 21st century major driver of nation’s economy with abundant benefits.
Uyoh, who expressed hope that the seaport when operational will provide ample job opportunities to indigenes, called on the host communities to enable a level playing ground for business to thrive in the area for their benefit and that of the state.
The Comptroller, Cross River/Akwa Ibom Free Trade Zone,Tinapa resort, Calabar Area Command, Compt. Shehu Gana, said Ibaka in Mbo local government area of Akwa Ibom state remains the strategic point for the development of Deep Seaport due to its over 15 metres depth that can accommodate more than three merchant ships.
Gana, represented by the Assistant Comptroller Jude Azubuike, said if the state government could well harness and develop the natural gifted harbour, the economy of the state would be competing with countries like China.
“If Ibaka Deep Seaport is well harnessed and developed, Akwa Ibom State economy would be more than China. There is no ship that can not enter Ibaka.
“Places like Lagos, Port Harcourt and others are chanels most of the ships move there. Some were not built as seaport but high-sea where goods, containers, vehicles are transported to the main Port. But, Ibaka has the deepest seaport in Nigeria,” he said.
He expressed optimism that if the Seaport was actualised, the state will have the biggest place in the world trade hub of Africa, adding that it will generate a greater employment opportunities for the masses.
Also speaking, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Bright Flow Logistics Services, Mrs Aniefiok Iton, said that preparing people for maritime business became necessary so as to support the industrialization drive of the state government and also to boost the non-oil policy of the federal government.
According to her, the essence of the sensitisation was to create awareness of the opportunities in the maritime sector, stressing that people must get involved in the underlined activities of the marine environment.
