Akwa Ibom State: facts and figures.

Date of creation: 23 September 1987

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Capital: Uyo

Current Leader: Governor Obong Victor Attah

Population: 4 million

Religion: Christianity and Traditional

Number of Local Governments: 31

Landmass: 8,412 sq kms

Nearest neighbours: Republic of Cameroon, Rivers, Abia, Imo and Cross Rivers states, and to the south by the Atlantic Ocean.

Seasons: Climatic conditions tropical. Dry seasons from November to March and the wet rainy season from April to October, interrupted by a short period of dry season in August. The mean annual rainfall is 2,200mm in the north and 3,000mm in the south. Average temperature ranges from 23 to 31 centigrade.

Vegetation: Rainforest, fresh water swamp forest, and saline water swamp forest.

Terrain: The state is watered by two main rivers, Cross River and Imo River; and the Atlantic Ocean to the south. There are five main terrains. namely: Alluvial plains, coastal ridge sands, rolling sandy plains, the uplands, and the Obotme isolated hills (collection of hills that rise to 150 metres above sea level).

Cash crops: Oil palm, rubber, cocoa, kola nut, cassava, rice, cowpea, plantain, banana, pineapple, citrus, etc

Food crops: Cassava, rice, maize, yam, cocoa yam, water yam, melon; and vegetables--pumpkin, bitter leaf, waterleaf, okra, pepper and afang.

Mineral resources: Crude oil, natural gas, gold, salt, silver nitrate, glass sand, clay, silicon, kaolin, limestone, etc

Oil production: Land and offshore.

Nearest airports and seaports: Calabar & Port Harcourt

Export Processing Zone (EPZ): Akwa Ibom is the only state served by three export free zones--triple opportunities for investors. These include Ikot Abasi--the seat of the Aluminum Smelter Company (ALSCON).

Easy link to World Business Centres: Akwa Ibom has an unrestrained access to foreign business centres because of its strategic location between Port Harcourt and Calabar. The state is also part of the Nigerian gateway to other African countries for trade.

Banks: Over 20 leading banks have major branches within the state, which is an important commercial, farming and industrial centre.

Investment Climate: The state has in place very friendly investor policies which fast-track the processing of business start-ups and every need of investors, including tax holidays for the initial period. The government's own Akwa Ibom Investment and Industrial Promotion Council (AKIIPOC) is the primary agency. AKIIPOC also assists private investors for sole or joint-partnership in the important areas of agriculture, oil and gas, transportation, housing and manpower training.

Industries: Aluminum smelter (ALSCON), paper mill, steel mills, ceramic, battery, biscuit, plastic factories and breweries, etc.

Tourism: Akwa Ibom people are very friendly and hospitable to visitors, including people coming to the state for business or pleasure. Tourist sites include the beaches Nwaniba, Eket, Ikot Abasi and Oron. The Presbyterian Church built by Mary Slessor in Itu in 1905 is among many tourists' attractions.