Akwa Ibom says seaport and airport projects will move economy beyond oil

Akwa Ibom State is betting on its seaport and aviation projects to earn money beyond oil, senior officials said at a ministerial briefing in Uyo on Tuesday.

The briefing, held at the Government House, was part of efforts to keep residents informed about government projects under the state's ARISE Agenda, according to the Commissioner for Information, Aniekan Umanah.

Emem Bob, the supervising commissioner for the Ministry of Special Duties and Ibom Deep Sea Port, said the investments are meant to "strengthen economic connectivity, stimulate enterprise and improve internally generated revenue."

Airport terminal nearly finished

At Victor Attah International Airport, the three-level Smart International Terminal is 93 per cent complete and already in use, Bob said. The 27,173-square-metre building is designed to handle up to three million passengers a year and has five boarding bridges, self-check-in points and international processing areas.

The terminal's first international flight, to Accra in Ghana, took off in May 2026, and regular flights began in June. Uwem Ekanem, special adviser on aviation and airport development, said the airport has recorded 1,998 passenger movements since gaining international status.

Ibom Air currently flies the route twice a week, on Sundays and Thursdays, with more flights expected as demand grows. Air Peace is due to start domestic operations on 23 October 2026, Ekanem said.

Other aviation work includes a 1.814-kilometre access road, an MRO hangar for aircraft maintenance, a 14.1-kilometre security fence and a parallel taxiway. Airbus has sent adaptation requirements for the maintenance hangar, and the state is still looking for an operator.

Seaport bidders still being picked

On the maritime side, Bob said the masterplan and feasibility studies for the Ibom Seaport are done, and the full business case has been approved by the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) and the Federal Executive Council. The state is still identifying preferred bidders.

The briefing also covered the 63,549-square-metre Ibom International Convention Centre, a 220-room Ibom International Hotel, the proposed ARISE Shopping City and plans for a Court of Appeal in the state.

Bob said the wider programme should boost commercial activity, grow the state's Treasury Single Account and cut reliance on oil and gas.

What happens next

The state will keep working to pick a seaport developer and an operator for the maintenance hangar. Air Peace's domestic flights are set to begin on 23 October, which should bring more travellers through the airport.