Why is Akwa Ibom state still without a fuel depot?
Yes, you read that right.
It’s a question I’ve long wanted to ask Nigeria’s petroleum marketers. And yet, it’s a strange kind of irony that anyone from Akwa Ibom State knows all too well.
Imagine living in one of Nigeria’s top oil-producing states, yet there isn’t a single functional fuel depot—let alone a refinery—within its borders.
A fuel depot is such critical infrastructure that a fuel-hungry state like Akwa Ibom, with a population exceeding 7 million, should already have in place.
Instead, residents continue to depend on fuel trucked in from Port Harcourt, Calabar, or Lagos.
During times of nationwide scarcity, the state suffers from tanker delays, price spikes, and long queues at filling stations.
What a paradox for a state that has one of the longest coastlines in Nigeria.
For years, this question echoed in my mind—until recently, when things began to feel different.
In a major boost, BUA Group announced plans to site a 200,000 b/d refinery and petrochemicals facility in one of the state’s LGAs, offering real hope for long-term energy security.
While the project’s full cost hasn’t been disclosed, BUA confirmed in January that it was “progressing steadily.”
More encouraging still is the surge in energy investment.
According to Bavijas, an energy research firm focused on the state, Akwa Ibom has attracted over $10 billion in energy projects in the last seven years—from oil and gas processing to power generation and clean energies.
In February 2025, the federal government signed a $7.9 billion deal with Chinese firms that includes developing a green hydrogen project in Akwa Ibom.
And just last year, Windek Energy broke ground on a 20,000-ton LPG depot at the Liberty Oil and Gas Free Trade Zone in Ibeno. We don’t know what progress the plant has so far made.
But let’s be honest: the mission is far from complete. While the rate of adoption of LPG over traditional cooking fuels has increased rapidly in the state, petrol remains the most used fuel and feeds its transport system.
We still need a petrol depot—one that guarantees consistent and affordable supply for homes, hospitals, businesses, and schools.
To investors: take up this challenge. Akwa Ibom is ready, and its people will back any project that adds value to their economy and daily lives.
This isn’t just about fuel; it’s about making the most of an opportunity that already begs for a take-up.
History rarely offers second chances. Let’s not miss this one.
Note: This article is also published on Bavijas! A bi-weekly energy newsletter on LinkedIn with over 1,000 readers.