Eket

Eket is a major city in the Niger Delta Region as it plays host to some of the major oil companies operating in the Nigerian territory. It is the second largest City in Akwa Ibom State after Uyo the State Capital. The City itself has a population of 263,342 residents while the Greater Eket Area Consisting of Eket Township, Ibeno, Qua Ibo and other small towns is over 800,000 in population. The greater Eket area is a Conurbation due to its indutrial potential.


Economy

An Oil Refinery is currently under Construction in the out skirts of the city along Oron road. The city has a stadium complex, an airstrip as well as other infrastuctures of immense importance. It also boast of some standard hotels such as Villa Marina, Royal Palace Hotel, and others.

Eket due to its industrial nature is an expensive city. The government has plans of upgradng the city by the provision of Infrastures such as dualisation of the major roads in the city and its environs, construction of housing estates and other necessary infrastructure.

In the 1990s western environmentalists were concerned over the activities of oil exploration companies in and around Eket, such as Shell and Mobil. The area is now newly "oil-rich" and Eket town is the thriving hub of a new oil and gas business, with more than 250 companies providing support services such as catering, flights, and exports. But this success has caused problems: in terms of a demand for brothels, a rise in the general cost of living in Eket town, and a reluctance by local young men to engage in traditional work such as fishing. There are vocal local campaigns to increase the percentage of oil revenue that is given to the local community