Cross River State Governor, Senator Bassey Edet Otu, has described the proposed Bakassi Deep Seaport as a major economic game-changer that will reposition the state as a leading maritime and commercial hub in the Gulf of Guinea.
Otu said the project would unlock vast commercial opportunities, stimulate investment, create employment and strengthen Nigeria’s participation in regional and international trade.
The Governor spoke during an inspection of the project site ahead of its symbolic groundbreaking scheduled for Friday by President Bola Tinubu.
He described the seaport as the revival of a historic trade corridor with more than 600 years of commercial significance, linking coastal communities to trans-Saharan trade routes.
“I am so excited; I am so elated because this is a game-changer. You will know that this trade route is over 600 years old, and reviving it is something wonderful that is going to happen to the people of this area,” he said.
According to Otu, the project would stimulate economic activities across multiple value chains, particularly commerce, transportation, maritime operations and other sectors connected to the Gulf of Guinea.
He also highlighted the historical significance of the project, particularly in addressing the economic challenges that followed the loss of the Bakassi Peninsula.
He stressed the importance of restoring economic opportunities to affected communities, noting that the people had continued to identify with Nigeria and trust in the country’s protection and commitment to their aspirations.
The Governor acknowledged that the project was initiated in 2018 by his predecessor, Professor Ben Ayade, as part of efforts to restore, recover and modernise Cross River’s maritime and economic assets.
He said his administration had sustained the initiative by working to secure the confidence and participation of development partners, international stakeholders and financial institutions.
Otu expressed satisfaction that the necessary groundwork was nearing completion, assuring that the state was prepared for the next phase of implementation.
“We are totally prepared,” he declared, explaining that considerable time had been devoted to securing appropriate financing, attracting credible development partners and establishing the institutional and operational frameworks required for the project.
The Governor further disclosed that his administration had commenced training programmes to equip residents of the project area and other Cross Riverians with the skills required to benefit from the employment and business opportunities the seaport would generate.
He said the training initiative would be expanded after the groundbreaking, with particular emphasis on artisans, skilled workers and professionals needed for the construction and eventual operation of the facility.
“We had already started training some people, but we will now double up in terms of artisans’ training and different capacities of workforce engagement that are going to open up,” he said.
Otu emphasised that the objective extended beyond constructing a world-class maritime facility to ensuring that its economic benefits translated into jobs, enterprise development, skills acquisition and improved livelihoods for residents.
He expressed confidence that the commencement of construction would inject fresh economic momentum into the project area, attract investments and usher in a new era of sustainable prosperity for Cross River State and Nigeria.
The Governor described the Bakassi Deep Seaport as more than an infrastructure project, saying it represented a strategic investment in the future and an opportunity to restore the state’s historical economic relevance while positioning it as a major maritime and commercial gateway in the Gulf of Guinea.
