Akutah Seeks Stakeholders’ Support for Private Jetty, Deep Seaport in Akwa Ibom
By Naomi Onome
The Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Ports Economic Regulatory Agency (NPERA), Dr Pius Akutah, MON, has urged maritime stakeholders in Akwa Ibom State to collaborate with the agency to develop a private jetty, advance the proposed deep-sea port and address critical infrastructure gaps in the state’s maritime sector.
Akutah made the call during an engagement with maritime stakeholders at NPERA’s Port Office in Uyo, where he stressed the need for collective commitment, practical initiatives and sustained collaboration to unlock the state’s maritime and trade potential.
He urged stakeholders to identify areas of mutual interest and work closely with the agency to promote maritime activities, noting that NPERA, its Port Office and industry operators must function as partners in advancing the sector.
On the proposed private jetty, the NPERA boss challenged stakeholders to develop a clear and practical concept to address the anchorage needs of vessels operating in Akwa Ibom waters.
He said a well-articulated proposal would provide a basis for further engagement and consideration, particularly in view of the infrastructure challenges confronting vessel operators in the state.
Regarding the proposed deep-sea port, Akutah advised stakeholders to prepare a comprehensive technical presentation detailing the project’s current status, development opportunities and requirements.
According to him, the document would serve as a foundation for engagement with the Akwa Ibom State Government and would be presented to the governor for assessment.
The Director-General also highlighted emerging opportunities in international shipping, disclosing that 10 shipping lines had indicated interest in calling at Nigerian ports following his participation in a conference in China.
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He noted that the development could strengthen shipping connections and expand maritime business opportunities for the country, including Akwa Ibom State.
Akutah further emphasised the importance of capacity development, describing it as critical to sustainable growth in the maritime industry.
He encouraged stakeholders to identify areas of collaboration that would support locally delivered training programmes and enhance the skills and expertise available within the state’s maritime sector.
The NPERA chief executive also urged stakeholders to take advantage of the Cargo Defence Fund, which he said remained available to support shippers and strengthen participation in maritime trade.
Earlier, the stakeholders welcomed the establishment of NPERA’s Port Office in Uyo, describing the agency’s presence as a significant development that would improve engagement with shippers, address industry concerns and create opportunities for maritime sector growth.
They called for the deployment of NPERA personnel to schools in Uyo to facilitate maritime training, knowledge transfer and awareness of career and business opportunities within the industry.
The stakeholders also drew attention to infrastructure challenges affecting maritime operations in the state, disclosing that more than 300 fishing vessels reportedly operate in Akwa Ibom waters without designated anchorage points.
They identified the proposed private jetty as a potential solution to the challenges confronting vessel operators and expressed interest in the proposed deep-sea port, which they described as a major opportunity for expanding the state’s maritime and economic activities.
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The engagement provided an opportunity for the agency and industry operators to discuss practical measures for addressing infrastructure deficiencies, strengthening local capacity and positioning Akwa Ibom to benefit from emerging opportunities in the maritime sector.
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