President Bola Tinubu announced his approval of the proposed Ibom Deep Sea Port in Akwa Ibom State on Friday, 6 November 2026, after Governor Umo Eno renewed the state’s request for the project during the President’s visit to Uyo.
Speaking at an All Progressives Congress rally at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Tinubu said the proposed port could support economic activity in Akwa Ibom and the wider South-South region. His announcement was an approval in principle, rather than an announcement that construction had been completed or that the port had begun operating.
Eno had raised the project in his welcome address. Tinubu responded publicly that the request was approved and linked the decision to his administration’s stated intention to expand economic opportunities across Nigeria’s geopolitical zones.
The proposed deep sea port is intended to strengthen maritime infrastructure in a region with extensive oil, gas and other commercial activity. However, Friday’s announcement did not establish a construction timetable, financing structure, final procurement arrangements or an operational opening date. Those details will determine when the approval can translate into a functioning port.
At a separate reception at the Arise Palm Resort, Eno welcomed the announcement. Tinubu also referred to an earlier approval to upgrade Victor Attah International Airport to international status, presenting transport infrastructure as part of his discussions with the state government.
The President’s visit included the commissioning of the airport’s new terminal building, Ring Road 3 and the Arise Palm Resort. These were presented as existing projects being inaugurated during the visit, distinct from the newly announced approval for the proposed port.
Tinubu encouraged the state to develop its agricultural resources, particularly palm produce, and to invest in vocational and other skills. He said local agricultural production and skills development could contribute to economic activity alongside infrastructure investment.
The gathering also had an electoral dimension. Tinubu urged young Nigerians to obtain and use their Permanent Voter Cards, while defending his government’s economic record. He claimed that the financial position of state governments had improved since he assumed office. Those remarks were political claims made during the rally, not independently established measures of the port project’s progress.
Vice President Kashim Shettima and other senior political figures attended the programme. Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri spoke on behalf of South-South governors and praised federal infrastructure initiatives, including the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway. Senate President Godswill Akpabio also addressed the gathering.
The port announcement follows years of discussion about expanding Nigeria’s maritime capacity beyond its established major commercial ports. For the Akwa Ibom proposal, the next substantive milestones will be documentary approvals, financing and procurement decisions, followed by verifiable construction work. None of those stages should be confused with the President’s statement at Friday’s rally.
Tinubu’s approval places the Ibom Deep Sea Port proposal back on the federal government’s stated development agenda. The state and relevant federal authorities have yet to provide the detailed implementation milestones needed to assess when the project might begin serving shipping companies and businesses.
