The British government has reaffirmed its commitment to investing in critical economic sectors in Nigeria, signalling a readiness to deepen bilateral cooperation. This pledge came from Jonny Baxter, British Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria, during a courtesy visit with Governor Pastor Umo Eno in Uyo.
Baxter commended Governor Eno’s administration for its emphasis on development policies aimed at poverty alleviation. He identified agriculture and other business development opportunities in Nigeria’s southern region, and invited state leaders to engage in exploring these zones for socio-economic investments.
“The Commission in Lagos has a commercial focus and we are looking at business and trade in the Southern areas. I want to get as many Southern States as I can, and I have long been looking forward to getting to Akwa Ibom State. And the reason is reinforced by Ibom Air, which to my mind, feels like one of the best flight carriers for the State in so many ways and everyone should be extraordinary proud of it,” Baxter said.
He praised what he described as “remarkable, visionary and impactful” leadership over the past two years in Akwa Ibom, especially in tourism and infrastructure—areas he said are helping to transform the state’s economy.
Governor Eno shared that his administration is developing several major economic projects. These include the Liberty Oil and Gas Free Trade Zone, the Ibom Industrial City, and Itam Industrial Park in Uyo.
“We want to work with an investor to power the Park so that it can run off-grid and provide power to industries that want to operate there,” said Eno. He also discussed plans such as the Tree Crop Revolution, the Ikot Ekpene International Market, and a rural electrification project.
Highlighting Akwa Ibom’s strides in aviation, the governor stated:
“Let me also inform you that Akwa Ibom is the first sub-national in Nigeria to create an aviation ecosystem, and we are seriously building on that. Apart from Ibom Air, we are nearing the completion of our MRO, and we would like to look for opportunities for managers or people that can help manage that MRO and our terminal building too.”
