A delegation from the British High Commission in Lagos, led by Deputy High Commissioner Johnny Baxter, on Thursday visited Akwa Ibom State to explore trade and investment opportunities.
The team was received by Governor Umo Eno, who highlighted his administration’s development drive under the ARISE Agenda, showcasing economic zones such as the Liberty Oil and Gas Free Trade Zone, Ibom Industrial City, and the Itam Industrial Park. He also pointed to signature projects like the Aviation Hub, the Ibom Convention Centre, and the Ikot Ekpene International Market.
Eno commended the UK’s longstanding ties with Nigeria, noting his administration’s collaboration with the Tony Blair Institute, particularly in tourism development. He disclosed that the state recently sponsored underprivileged students for educational outreach in the UK.
Baxter praised Akwa Ibom’s infrastructure, tourism potential, and the success of Ibom Air, describing it as “one of the best flight carriers in the country.” He expressed the UK’s interest in supporting investment in agriculture and tourism, adding that Akwa Ibom’s lush landscape and green scenery showed its economic potential.
The British delegation also toured key facilities, including the multi-billion-naira ARISE Resort, developed on a 70-hectare site formerly devastated by erosion.
Other members of the UK team included Mark Smithson, Country Director, Department for Business and Trade; Dr. Fortune Alfred, Senior Political Adviser and Head of the South-South Regional Office; and Wale Adebajo, Senior Political Adviser at the British Deputy High Commission in Lagos.
The visit comes as the UK intensifies efforts to deepen commercial ties with Nigeria and other African economies in the post-Brexit era, with sub-national governments like Akwa Ibom increasingly positioning themselves as investment gateways in the Gulf of Guinea.
