Akwa Ibom, US-based group unveil 178 years old slave boat

Akwa Ibom State Government, in partnership with the National Association of Akwa Ibom (NAAKIBOM), USA has unveiled a slave boat of 178 years old at the Marina Beach, Ibom Hotel and Golf Resort at Nwaniba, a coastal community of the state.

According to the state Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, the slave boat was confiscated from slave masters by the natives of a coastal community of Nwaniba in Uruan Local Council of the state towards the end of the global slave trade era.

Releasing the news to the public in Uyo, the tourism commissioner said the slave boat, was believed to have voyaged from Liverpool to berth in Nwaniba, Uruan in 1846 where the slave masters resided to transact in the nefarious business.

Udoh stated that, irked by the excruciating pains of slavery and the inhuman treatment of slave masters, the angry natives confiscated the boat in a guerrilla warfare.

The tourism commissioner emphasised that the slave boat was one of the remaining relics of the colonial masters slave business in Akwa Ibom State.

He disclosed that, the restoration and preservation project of the slave boat located at the Marina Beach, Ibom Hotel & Golf Resort was funded by investors brought in by the National Association of Akwa Ibom (NAAKIBOM) USA and expressed deep appreciation to the Association for partnering government in the development of Tourism in the State.

Udoh reiterated that Akwa Ibom is endowed with virgin untapped tourism potential across the length and breadth of the state, including: the longest coastline in the region, of 129km and numerous tourist sites with historical perspectives beckoning on investors.

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He therefore called on other citizens living abroad and public-spirited individuals at home to join the government in the development of tourist sites as a major revenue generation sector the economy.