Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has described the ongoing Ikot Ekpene International Market as a strategic investment capable of transforming the state’s commercial landscape, creating jobs, attracting investment and opening Akwa Ibom’s indigenous products to regional and international markets.
Governor Eno stated this during the unveiling and turning of the sod for the construction of the Ikot Ekpene International Market, as part of activities marking the 39th anniversary of the creation of Akwa Ibom State.
The Governor said the project was more than the construction of another trading facility, but an infrastructure of opportunity designed to provide traders, entrepreneurs, artisans, manufacturers and young people with a platform to expand their businesses and create wealth.
“Today, we are laying the foundation for prosperity. We are building an infrastructure of opportunity; we are creating a platform upon which our traders, entrepreneurs, artisans, manufacturers and young people can build their dreams.”
The market, situated on more than 20 hectares of land, is designed as a modern commercial and logistics hub with 30 standard blocks, warehouses, administrative facilities, security infrastructure, restaurants, cold-room facilities, an abattoir, power and water systems, as well as internal road networks.
The first phase is projected to provide about 1,200 shops, alongside major warehousing facilities and supporting infrastructure, offering an organised environment for retail, wholesale, agricultural and industrial commerce.
With its strategic location in Ikot Ekpene, the market is expected to draw traders and customers from neighbouring Cross River, Abia and Rivers States, as well as Cameroon, thereby strengthening Akwa Ibom’s position within the wider Gulf of Guinea trade corridor.
Commissioner for Trade and Investment, Captain Inionong Ekong (rtd.), said the market was conceived as part of Governor Eno’s broader strategy of developing commercial, tourism and industrial hubs across the state.
He said the facility would generate employment and revenue while connecting Akwa Ibom to major regional trading centres.
“This market becomes a focal destination for Cross River, Abia, Rivers and the Cameroons. We are going to receive all for the benefit of our people, because it is going to generate income and revenue, generate employment and connect us with the trade hubs of the Gulf of Guinea in West Africa.”
The Commissioner said the project was already taking shape, with some blocks at decking and foundation stages, expressing confidence that construction could be completed for commissioning around February or March next year.
Beyond the market project, Governor Eno used the anniversary occasion to highlight what he described as the administration’s development record across the 31 local government areas.
He said the government had completed the 39 projects lined up to commemorate the state’s 39th anniversary, while about 85 additional projects remained at various stages for commissioning, with others expected to be unveiled through May 2027.
The Governor said the administration had focused on making governance tangible through interventions in infrastructure, healthcare, education, youth development, workers’ welfare, housing and rural development.
According to him, the government had provided free healthcare services to registered beneficiaries, supported students with transport assistance, introduced monthly allowances for Akwa Ibom indigenes serving outside the state under the NYSC scheme and strengthened youth development programmes at the local government level.
He also cited ongoing major projects, including the International Convention Centre, a 200-bed hotel, a shopping city and an international hospital with more than 40 clinics, as part of efforts to deepen the state’s tourism, hospitality, healthcare and commercial economy.
On workers’ welfare, Governor Eno said the administration had continued clearing inherited gratuity obligations, with further payments expected to bring beneficiaries up to date before May 2027.
“We came to work for our people. We came to deliver on our mandate. We came to show our people that governance can be felt at the grassroots level, and we have demonstrated it across the 31 local governments of the state.”
The Governor said the anniversary projects were intended to demonstrate that government could deliver infrastructure and services that directly affect the lives of citizens, stressing that the celebration should also serve as a platform for renewed commitment to completing projects already started.
Chairman of Ikot Ekpene Local Government Area, Aniefiok Nkom, recalled the early discussions surrounding the market and said the project would alter the commercial fortunes of the area by attracting traders and travellers who regularly move along the corridor.
He said the facility would provide a permanent commercial destination for people from Akwa Ibom, neighbouring states and Cameroon.
“This will change the narrative of Akwa Ibom State and the Ikot Ekpene people. When this market is completed, the people who pass through this axis every Monday and Thursday will have a major commercial destination here.”
The Chairman commended the Governor for responding to the needs of the people of the area, describing the market as evidence of the administration’s commitment to projects with direct economic value.
For Governor Eno, the ultimate objective is to move Akwa Ibom beyond a consumption-based economy to one where local businesses and producers can compete beyond the state’s borders.
He said the market would provide a platform where indigenous products could meet wider markets, while young people would have increased opportunities to participate in commerce, manufacturing, logistics and other areas of the value chain.
The Governor said the 39th anniversary projects therefore represented not only a celebration of the state’s past but also an investment in its economic future.
“This will be an Akwa Ibom where our indigenous products can compete confidently in national, regional and international markets; an Akwa Ibom where our people do not merely consume wealth, but begin to create wealth.”
The Ikot Ekpene International Market is consequently positioned as one of the major commercial components of the anniversary projects, with its expected impact extending beyond trading to transportation, logistics, agriculture, manufacturing, hospitality, employment generation and internally generated revenue.
As Akwa Ibom moves towards its 40th anniversary, the Eno administration says the continuing projects across the state are intended to consolidate the gains recorded so far and provide a foundation for further economic and social development.