By Musa Yaro, Calabar
Cross River State governor, Prince Bassey Otu, has advocated for the immediate dredging of the Calabar Port.
Speaking in Government House Calabar when he received the Calabar Port Manager, Festus Ikechi Olumati, and his team, the governor admitted that only this will transform it into an active Port, attracting investors, tourists and increase in revenue generation.
“It is important that the encumbrances hindering the dredging work be settled out of court for us to have a more active Port.
“If it is in terms of offering concessions to cargo and ship owners, we will ensure that such is granted.
“We are fully aware of the enormous economic potential of the Port and we will do our best to make it work to improve our economy through the generation of desired revenue for the country,” the governor assured.
Otu charged the management of the Port to take advantage of the existing synergy between the state government, the Navy, and other security agencies to draw more traffic to the Calabar Port.
“We are doing our best in terms of security and I want to assure you that with the collaborative efforts of the Navy and other security agencies in the state coupled with the fact that we are positioning a vessel at the estuary, these would help check piracy and other criminal activities.
“Do not relent in your marketing drive but ensure you meet with the Chambers of Commerce and other relevant stakeholders in the Port on the need for a renewed drive to bring life back to the Port.
“We have an investment across the water so we welcome any investor willing to dry dock or engage in other Ports development that will boost economic activities around the area,” Otu said.
Earlier, the Calabar Port Manager, Chief Festus Ikechi Olumati, informed that his team has never relented in its aggressive marketing efforts which are transcending to fortunes.
“Before my taking over the Port, we were receiving four vessels monthly but today, through our aggressive marketing efforts, we now receive at least 16 vessels in a month.
“Also, after six years, the Calabar Port has received 34,000 metric tonnes of the vessel with a total cargo tonnage of 42 metric tonnes.
“These have translated into an increase in both revenue generation and cargo activities in the Port, thereby generating employment opportunities,” the Calabar Port Manager disclosed.
Olumati who further intimated that seven indigenes of the state were recently employed by the Nigerian Port Authority, appealed for the granting of vessel and cargo concessions by the government, to boost business activities with attendant revenue generation in the Port.
