The Nigerian National Petroleum Commission, NNPC, has concluded plans and is set to build a top standard logistics base in Ibaka, Mbo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, in the South – South geopolitical zone of Nigeria. As this is part of the Federal Government’s efforts to develop capacity and grow local content, the NNPC will partner with the Akwa Ibom State Government and also the private sector to establish the logistics base in Ibaka, Akwa Ibom State.
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, and a Niger Delta son of the soil, former Bayelsa State governor, Timipriye Silva, led the Group Managing Director, Mele Kyari, and board members of the NNPC, on an inspection of the 2000 acres of land contributed by the Government of Akwa Ibom State, headed by His Excellency Udom Emmanuel, yesterday Saturday 22nd August 2020.
A logistics base is an expansive and efficient space built for cargo handling, stevedoring, warehousing, material handling equipment, people and logistics management structures, petroleum and water bunkering, heavy article sorting and transport facilities and others.
The town of Ibaka is said to have a natural feature fit for offshore logistics and deep sea port potential, but efforts to develop an Ibaka Deep Sea Port has been ridden with legal frustrations and systemic administrative corruption for more than a decade.
In 2018, the Federal Government budgeted ₦1 billion towards the development of Ibaka Deep Sea Port in the State of Akwa Ibom. But efforts to have its construction commenced have been stalled.
This initiative by NNPC and the Akwa Ibom State Government will in no small way, give the logistics sector the relief it needs especially for goods meant for the southern and south eastern part of Nigeria. And also, accord Ibaka the attention it needs for the actualisation of its full potential for the economy of the country.
