AKS Govt. Urge to Focus Energy and Resources on Deep Sea Port to Sustain Ancillary Facilities and Bonded Terminals

By Akpekwu Imbufe, Bureau Chief, Southsouth

The Akwa Ibom State government has been urged to focus its energy and resources on bringing the Deep Sea Port to fruition rather than seeking partnerships, which it has little structures to support.

According to the views expressed by the PDP’s Advocates for Peace and Justice, (PAPA-J), the deep sea port is an investment that would naturally justify and sustain ancillary facilities like bonded terminals, industrial parks, and logistics hubs, the likes of which governor Umo Eno recently sought partnership with the Nigerian Customs.

PAPA-J posited that Akwa Ibom people deserves visionary leadership anchored on realistic, well-sequenced development plans and not policy inconsistencies that risk turning the state into a laughing stock in serious economic discourses.

The body therefore called on the governor to provide clarity on development policies and to prioritize the completion of the Deep Sea Port project, which remains the true gateway to economic expansion, job creation, and global competitiveness for Akwa Ibom State.

The concerns of the PDP Advocates for Peace and Justice (PAPA-J) stems from its disappointment over the recent announcement that the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Umo Eno, has secured approval for a bonded terminal following his meeting with the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi.

It says, while governance thrives on strategic planning and infrastructure sequencing, “We find it troubling that an administration would celebrate the approval of a bonded terminal in the absence of a functional Deep Sea Port, a project that has, for years, remained the cornerstone of Akwa Ibom’s economic aspirations.

“A bonded terminal, by its very nature, is a complementary facility designed to support import and export logistics tied to active port operations. Without a Deep Sea Port, this approval stands as a clear misnomer, an economic cart placed before the horse. It raises fundamental questions about the government’s development priorities and its grasp of integrated infrastructure planning;

“For a state that has long touted the Ibom Deep Sea Port as a game-changing project capable of transforming the economic landscape of the South-South region, this latest development signals a worrying shift from substance to optics. It suggests a preference for headline-grabbing announcements over the hard, sustained work required to deliver critical infrastructure;

“We ask: What cargo will this bonded terminal serve? Through which port will goods arrive? How does this align with a coherent logistics and industrialization strategy for the state?

“Rather than pursuing fragmented approvals, the government should concentrate its attention on bringing the Deep Sea Port to fruition; a statement signed by the Dr. Tom Fred and Saviour Uko, both Chairman and Secretary of PAPA-J stated, just as it reaffirmed the body’s commitment to holding leaders accountable and advocating for policies that reflect prudence, coherence, and genuine progress.

In March, the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, had secured approval for a bonded terminal in the state, following a courtesy visit to the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, at the Nigeria Customs Headquarters in Abuja.

The development is expected to streamline trade, improve goods management, and position Akwa Ibom as a regional aviation and logistics hub.

Governor Eno praised the Customs Service for the approval, noting that it would ease the cost of doing business and open new avenues for investment. “This terminal will further position Akwa Ibom as a strategic gateway for commerce in Nigeria and the Gulf of Guinea as we prepare for international operations at the Victor Attah Airport, Uyo ,” he said.

Comptroller-General Adeniyi commended the Governor for his developmental projects, particularly in aviation, highlighting their role in boosting economic growth and regional connectivity.

The Akwa Ibom State Bonded Terminal is a newly approved, strategic logistics facility designed to streamline trade, reduce import and export costs, and boost the state’s economic standing, particularly following the development of the Victor Attah International Airport cargo capacity. It serves as a secured, off-port area for storing goods that are in transit, allowing for delayed duty payments, efficient cargo management, and enhanced logistics operations.

The policy of the bonded terminal according to sources in Uyo is to complement the Victor Attach International Airport and when completed, it will function as part of the state’s emerging aviation and logistics hub. The governor hopes the partnership with the Nigeria Customs Service would turn the airport into a major commercial gateway, reducing the need for importers to clear cargo from distant ports like Lagos.

“The bonded terminal would provides secure storage for goods before customs duty is paid, assisting with inventory management, logistics operation, facilitates value-added activities such as sorting, labeling, and consolidation.” The source stated.

On the Economic Impact, other sources that confided with the Blue Economy Magazine averred that the bonded terminal would attract investors, create jobs, and facilitate re-exportation and supports the broader, massive infrastructure of the state’s upcoming cargo terminal and smart airport features, so as to position the state for regional trade within the Gulf of Guinea.

“The terminal is part of a deliberate effort to build an ecosystem for trade expansion, acting as a crucial link between policy ambition and practical commercial utility for manufacturers and distributors.” Our sources said.