Investment opportunities in Akwa Ibom State

Akwa Ibom has a population of  2,359, 736 inhabitants (1991 provisional census) who are predominantly farmers and fishermen. They are also wood carvers, raffia workers, blacksmiths and traders. The state also boasts of career civil servants, teachers and skilled professionals.

The state is accessible by land air and sea

Investment potentials:

Akwa Ibom is a state overflowing with agricultural and mineral resources. The abundance of these resources makes the state a goldmine for investors. the state is blessed with numerous rivers, creels and streams. Its location places it in favourable position for all-year season agricultural activities. Thus, all season farming is the major occupation of the 24 local government areas of the state. its agricultural cash produce includes timber, cocoa, oil palm kernel, raffia palm, rubber, coffee, coconut and gmelina. Its food crops include cassava, yam, cocoyam, plantain, banana, maize, rice and a variety of fruits.

The following fishes are found in  commercial quantities in the state bonga fish, cat fish, crayfish, shinynose, snapper, tilapia, croaker and barracuda. Aquatic animals such as crocodiles, seacows, hippopotamus and turtles also abound in the state.

The state also has abundant mineral resources such as crude oil, natural gas, limestone, clay, gold, salt, silver, nitrate, aluminum and glass sand. These minerals can sustain such industries as petrochemical, glass manufacturing, ceramics and cement. The state is the third largest producer of crude petroleum in Nigeria, after Rivers and Delta states. Crude oil and gas are found in Uquo Ibeno, Ikot Abasi and Mkpat Enin local government areas of the state.

The state has a high density of oil palm belt on the West African coast, which can sustain oil mills and allied industries such as, palm kernel cracking industries and feed mills.

Akwa Ibom is one of the catchment areas in the Export Processing Zone, EPZ in Calabar. The EPZ will offer a great opportunity to increase production of various commodities for export. The raw materials research and development council office in the state provides information on raw materials available in the state to potential investors.

For further information please contact the office of the chief press secretary to the governor of Akwa Ibom. Telephone +085  202400, +085 203484