May 12,2021
Messrs Bollore Transport Logistics
31/32 Quai De Dion Bouton
92811 Puteaux Cedex France.

Attention: Mr Philip Labonne

Dear Sir

CONTROVERSY SURROUNDING IBAKA (IBOM) DEEP SEAPORT

We are informed that your esteemed organization is the selected Core Investor in the Deep Sea Port
development in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria.

We write on behalf of the people of Oron Nation, which is supposed to be the Host Community for the Deep Sea Port, to intimate you of the emerging controversy surrounding the Deep Sea Port Project. We do this with the hope that as a Core Investor who would take up 60% equity in the Deep Seaport, you can take appropriate steps to ensure that the right thing is done so that the Port can be developed and operated at a sustainable cost in a peaceful operational environment.

Nigeria is a country made up of numerous ethnic nationalities, some very large and others small. The exigency of the Nigerian Nationhood has necesitated both the small and large ethnic nationalities to coexist in many States of the Nigerian Federation.

Oron Nation is a minority ethnic nationality in Akwa lbom State. It is located at the Eastern extremity of
Nigeria. Bounded in the East by the large estuary of cross River and In the south by the Atlantic ocean, Oron is one of the communities in Nigeria with a large Maritime environment blessed with abundant natural resources including Oil and Gas and Natural Harbour at ibaka unfortunately, although contributing 70% of the Oil producion accruing to Akwa Ibom state the highest oil Producing State in Nigeria, Oron Nation has always been deprived of the benefits of its rich maritime environment
because of its ethnic minority status.

Ibaka Deep Sea Port, conceptualized since 2003 to take advantage of the Natural Harbour at ibaka was the first Deep Sea Port to be embarked upon by the Federal Government of Nigeria. The Port was to be developed under a Public Private Partnership (PPP) model between the Federal Government of Nigeria, Akwa lbom State Government and a Private Investor with equity holding in the ratio of 20:20:60
respectively.

In 2012 the Federal Government of Nigeria through a Ministerial Steering Committee set up a Project Delivery Team (PDT) for the Project. The PDT working with Consultants carried out comprehensive Due Diligence studies including the preferred site selection for the Deep Sea Port. A site tagged “okposo” near Ibaka and close to Tom Shot sland was selected as a Preferred Location for the lbaka Deep Sea Port.

Incidentally, independent studies conducted by Worley Parsons and Delta Afrik in 2009 also selected the same site as the preferred location for the Deep Sea Port.

All the financial modelling which put the total Capital Expenditure (CAPEX) for the Three Phases of the Deep Sea Port at a conservative value of about 2bn USD was based on this preferred location. The approved Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) for Ibom Industrial City within which the Deep Sea Port is located was based on the Sea Port in this same preferred location. Godswill Akpabio who was the Governor of Akwa lbom State in 2012 had promised to commission the Deep Sea Port at the preferred location before leaving office in 2015. Unfortunately destructive ethnic politics set in with unjustified plan to remove the Sea Port from the preferred location because it is in Oron Nation which is a minority ethnic nationality in Akwa Ibom State.

As a consequence, for over nine good years, there is nothing on ground for the Deep Sea Port apart from paper work which we learnt has gulped billions of Naira. What has come to our knowledge is that the Deep Sea Port will now be built as a Dugout Port in an Artificial ocean created on dry land in allocation outside Oron Nation. This new location scored low with quantitative location evaluation during Due Diligence studies and was rejected. We are also informed that the Federal Government of Nigeria has relinquished its equity in the Deep Sea Port project and in addition has refused to guarantee any loan obtained for the Project. This may not be unconnected with the relocation of the Deep Sea Port from the
preferred location and the choice of a Dugout Port.

The entire Oron Nation who were supposed to be the cheerful Host Community for the Deep Sea Portare devastated and embarrassed, since this is not the first time they have suffered such humilating deprivation due to their ethnic minority status. They have therefore vehemently rejected the plan for the relocation of the Deep Sea Port from the preferred location

Sir, Oron People consider the construction of a Dugout port, in an Artificial Ocean somewhere else when a location close to a Natural Harbour favourably recommended by professionals exists in the vicinity, as simply unacceptable. Specifically, we are concerned about digging an Ocean out of a dry land, large enough to berth Deep Sea Vessels with drafts up to 15meters and lengths up to 300meters. The Dugout Ocean would also be extensive enough to provide turning circle and secure anchorage for such vessels. It is decisions like this, which are based on primordial sentiments that make Africa to remain perpetually under developed despite its abundant natural endowment.

Sir, it is with humility that the People of Oron Nation seek your indulgence to go through the attached under listed documents which detail the degree of falsity and dishonesty attending the decision to move the Deep Sea Port from its preferred location to somewhere else outside Oron Nation to be built as an unusual Dugout Port.

1.0 The Petition of the people of Oron Nation, to the Government of Akwa Ibom State, against the
following:

1.1 Relocation of lbaka Deep Sea Port from Okposo, a Preferred Location near a Natural Harbour at Ibaka in Oron Nation to Ibeno, to be built as a Dugout Port.

1.2 Digging out of an Artificial Ocean ( 1KM2) out of scarce land anywhere near Oro Nation

1.3 Dumping of Excavated Sand for the ill-advised Artificial Ocean near Oron Land and Water Territory with the attendant negative Social and Environmental impact.

2.0 Review of the Location Assessment Document on which the relocation is said to be based by Experts.

Sir, our prayer is that as a Core Investor, you please endeavour to go through the attached documents and decide for yourself whether the planned relocation of Ibaka Deep Sea Port from its preferred location is based on any scientific, technical or economic reasons and if not so, to kindly use your
leverage as the Core Investor to advise appropriately.

Pleasc accept the kind regards of Oron People.

Chairman, Oron Technical Committee
of IDSP on Detailed /Engineering Studies

Prince Chris Abasi Eyo
Fmr. Commissioner of Information, AKS
Chairman, Oron Think Tank (OTT).

HRM, Ofong Effiong Mathew Unanaowo
Eti Oyo Okpo.
Chairman, Council of Oro Traditional Rulers (COTR)

His Lordship, Bishop Etim Ante.
President General, Oron Union