Chief Godswill Obot Akpabio, the Executive governor of Akwa Ibom State, has said that the Ibaka Deep Seaport will change the face of Oro Nation when it becomes functional. Akpabio made the assertion while addressing traditional rulers in Oron Local Government Area at the palace of the paramount ruler, Ofong Odiong Akan in Uya Oron recently.

The governor and his entourage which included the running mate, Obong Nsima Ekere and wife, Ese, were in Oron in continuation of his re-election campaign. Also in the entourage was his wife, Ekaette Unoma, who received warm embrace by the royal women of Oron Local Government Area, led by Chief Ikwo Obiesio, a lawyer, Obonganwan Josephine Ekong, Chief Nkoyo Odokwo, Mary Inyang and others. Also present was their senatorial hopeful, Mrs. Helen Esuene, and Mrs. Atim Akan, late Sen. Victor Akan’s mother whose presence gladdens Akpabio’s heart.

Akpabio told the cheering audience at the paramount ruler’s palace to reposition themselves for the new industrial and urbanization impact the Ibaka Industrial City would generate when it comes on stream. He assured that the state government would build additional 1,500 housing units in the estate envisaged to provide decent accommodation to the variety of experts and personnel that the Ibaka Deep Seaport would attract.

The governor advised the people to also plan to build more modern houses to avert inflating house rent that would be pushed up by an increasing number of tenants in the area. He stressed that Oron as the capital of Oro nation, located between the airport in Okobo and seaport in Ibaka, would play host to visitors and workers in these international transport facilities and in turn benefit from their economic activity.

The PDP standard bearer stated that he had mobilized contractors to complete road projects in Oron, explaining that the delay in execution was due to the need for better design of the roads.

Receiving the governor and his team, Ofong Odong Akan reaffirmed Oro’s support for Akpabio to continue in office till 2015, by which time he would have completed many of the promising projects he has done in the state. He asked the governor to build more secondary schools in Oron and revive the ferry service between Oron and Calabar that has been of immense service to the people of Oron and their mainland neighbours.