Gov Eno Signs MoU on Ibom Deep Seaport with INTERAF Group Two Weeks After Registration with CAC
•A'Ibom Govt keeps secret, details, scope of MoU
In what public affairs analysts and commentators describe as the the latest deceptive bait of Governor Umo Eno's administration in the Akwa Ibom State, the state government has signed an undisclosed MoU with INTERAF GROUP to handle the Ibom Deep Seaport Project in the State.
According to investigation carried out by the Guide Newspaper, the Memorandum of Understanding signed between Akwa Ibom State Government and INTERAF GROUP on Ibom Deep Seaport Project took place two weeks after the company was registered with Corporate Affairs Commission.
A document exclusively retrieved by the Guide Newspaper from Corporate Affairs Commission reveals that INTERAF GROUP was registered with Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) on Monday, 22nd December 2025, with registration number: 9110761.
The Guide Newspaper reports that INTERAF GROUP is barely two weeks old as a registered in Nigeria, before the signing of the MoU with Akwa Ibom State Government on Ibom Deep Seaport Project, a development that has raised serious doubt on the sincerity of Akwa Ibom State Government in handling the Ibom Deep Seaport Project after more than two decades of the project remaining a pipe dream in the State.
The Signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Akwa Ibom State Government and INTERAF GROUP took place last Monday, 12 January, 2025, in Government House, Uyo, with Prince Enobong Uwah, the Secretary to the State Government signing the MoU with the consortium unbehalf of Governor Umo Eno for the State Government.
Further investigation by the Guide Newspaper reveals that INTERAF GROUP had listed Ibom Deep Seaport as one of their clients over three years ago before INTERAF GROUP was registered with Corporate Affairs Commission and before the recent celebrated MoU sign during the week.
The Guide Newspaper equally observed that the state government failed to disclose in its official statement important information expected in such MoU which include : the scope of responsibility assigned to INTERAF GROUP Consortium, technical roles, financial commitments, timelines, risk allocation, or project deliverables.
Also, investigation carried out by the Guide Newspaper reveals the directors of the company to include: Ezinwa Chinedu Ibekwe as the Founder and CEO of the INTERAF GROUP, Obinna Jideofo Ibekwe as Director Engineering Technology. Other directors are: Olujimi O. Popoola, Anayo NzeribevArch. Modibbo Adulladir Sadiq, Luciana Salvatore, Ukwumonun Etubi, Peter Paul Ogbaje, Senator Ahmad Abubakar.
Commenting on the development, a foremost socio political group in Akwa Ibom State, Ibom Akwa Ibom (IAI) described the signing of the MoU between Akwa Ibom Government and INTERAF GROUP on Ibom Deep Seaport as the highest political deception displayed by Governor Umo Eno, questioning the recent intention of the governor on the project which he had long abandoned shortly on assumption of office.
Speaking through its Secretary General, Comrade Solomon Akpan-obong, IAI challenged Governor Umo Eno to reveal the details of the MoU signed between the State and the Consortium, accusing the state government of planning to use the deceptive MoU as a political bait to canvass support for APC government in 2027 election.
Also reacting to the development, a citizen of Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Aniefiok Effanga, wrote on Facebook, "I'm becoming increasingly uncomfortable with these MOUs . How, in heaven's name would a signature project like the seaport be tossed in a concentric circle for nearly two decades without tangible development at the site? Implementation of this project shouldn't be politicised as destinies of teaming Akwa Ibom youths in particular , and Nigeria in general are yearning for a proactive approach to its commencement."
Another internet user Mr. Frank Ududo, said: "This makes me giggle. Apart from Ibom Air, which other government consortium ever worked in the State? Akpabio administration sang song of Ibom Deep Seaport. A lot of money went into the "thinking" of the project. A lot more was spent designing the said seaport. Later, it became public knowledge that personal interests clashed. This led to the project being stalled. Governor Udom Emmanuel took over and the attention shifted to land/location/name change.
“Apparently not wanting to dissipate further energy because of what was on ground, the administration backed tracked but not before expending huge resources on it. Akpabio spent 8 years and fund. Udom similarly spent 8 years and more funds. All to no avail as nothing tangible has been done.
“Now, Gov Umo Eno has signed another MoU with, this time, indigenous "investors". But let me ask: what happened to the partnership with the FG on the Deep Seaport project? Meanwhile, Lagos State has built two Deep Seaports within the period. Are we not scandalized by the way the State government is trivializing the whole project? I shake my head."
It would be recalled that Governor Umo Eno had in 2023 during one of his governorship electionneering campaigns in Akwa Ibom State stated categorically that President Bola Tinubu as a Yoruba man can never allow Akwa Ibom State to get Ibom Deep Seaport under his watch as the President of Nigeria.
"They talked about Ibom Deep Seaport to be built, don't let anybody deceive you, no body, at least not the APC Presidential candidate with respect would leave Badagry Deep Seaport or Lekki Deep Seaport to come and build Ibom Deep Seaport, it will not happen," Governor Umo Eno had said.
Efforts made by our correspondent to get the Commissioner for Information and Strategy in Akwa Ibom State Mr. Aniekan Umanah and the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr Ekerette Udoh to speak on the project proved abortive as they both failed to respond to the text messages sent to their WhatsApp lines despite reading the message.
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