Uyo — Minister of Transport, Senator Idris Umar, has said that the Federal Government is committed to the development and completion of the Ibaka Deep Sea Port because the existing ports have been over-stretched.

Umar, who said this at a workshop in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, said the situation in existing sea ports in the country calls for development of additional ports.

"It is also clear that our existing ports, particularly the western ports of Lagos are overstretched since the ports and facilities were designed to handle 60 million metric tons annually. Today, the ports handle over 100 million tons annually and clearly cannot cope with the current demand of the sector. The development of additional sea ports is therefore imperative", he said.

The minister, who was represented by the director of policy coordination, Dr Iorwuese, said the Federal Government will partner Akwa Ibom State and private organisations to the make the Ibaka sea port realisable.