By Ralph Etim
A United States-based Nigerian entrepreneur, Mr. Namso Akpan, has raised concerns over the readiness of Pastor Umo Eno to deliver on the proposed Ibom Deep Seaport, citing persistent power supply challenges as a critical obstacle.
Mr. Akpan, made the remarks during an interview with Michael Bush on Channel 27 over the weekend, highlighting a disconnect between the state government’s ambitions and its current infrastructure realities.
According to him, while the administration pursues a vast maritime project, it continues to struggle with providing consistent 24-hour electricity supply or half of it at least even with the existence of the Ibom Power Plant, which was intended to stabilize power for residents and commerce.
In his remarks, “The state has a major power facility, but residents and businesses still face frequent outages. Small businesses, in particular, bear the brunt of this inconsistency, with operations disrupted and costs increasing due to reliance on generators,” Akpan explained.
He also argued that this power gap directly undermines the feasibility of running a complex project like the Ibom Deep Seaport, which requires reliable electricity for port operations, logistics, and industrial support.
Also highlighting recent initiatives by the state government, Mr. Namso Akpan who is the Chief Executive Officer CEO of Lantawood Job Development Association in Atlanta Georgia, USA, noted that although Governor Eno has hosted electricity summits and introduced new power laws, these efforts remain largely procedural.
Giving his assertion on the issue he said “Much of what we see are paper policies. Little practical action has been taken to truly revamp the power sector,” he added warning that without concrete measures, infrastructure ambitions will remain aspirational.
The US based entrepreneur also raised broader economic and political red flags, pointing to the dominance of Lagos in the country’s maritime trade and referencing abandoned seaports in Cross River State and elsewhere in the region. According to him, without a strong industrial base and reliable infrastructure, the Ibom Deep Seaport risks becoming a channel for external economic exploitation rather than a driver of local growth.
He also called for an urgent, practical interventions in the power sector by the state government emphasising that meaningful progress on the Ibom Deep Seaport depends on addressing foundational deficiencies.
“Until the power supply is stabilized and small businesses can operate reliably, pursuing the seaport is putting the cart before the horse,” he said, urging that infrastructure development must be grounded in practical realities.