The Port Manager of the Nigerian Ports Authority, Calabar, Mr Olumati Festus, disclosed that the Calabar port has become thriving and highly functional.
He spoke through the Port Counsel, Barrister Ekanem Bassey, who represented him on Wednesday during a fact-finding visit by the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN).
She said, “Sixteen to eighteen mega-ships with up to 190- LOA capacity now berth at the port every month. Regretfully, many manufacturers still prefer, in ignorance, to endure the strain and stress of moving their goods through either Onne Port in Rivers State or Badagry Port in faraway Lagos State.”
She also informed that the Calabar port is currently offering numerous concessions and exemptions to boost utilization of the port. Also ocean-going vessels dock at the port and transport bulk, dry, wet, and general cargoes.
The objective is to prevent manufacturers, exporters, and importers from using other ports. In this way, we hope to prevent exporters and importers from incurring huge costs and stress in other ports far away. She also announced that the dredging issue would be resolved as the lawsuit had been withdrawn by the court.
The Port Traffic Manager, Mr. Albert Alaleye, also in his speech, disclosed that he had held a meeting with businesses doing imports and exports in both states to raise awareness about the port’s capabilities.
Mr. Albert Alaleye disclosed that Calabar Port serves the Adamawa/Taraba/Borno axis, confirming that vessels from the port also serve neighboring countries such as Cameroon, Gabon and Equatorial Guinea. He added that because of tidal conditions they prefer flat-bottomed boats and are equipped to handle all types of cargo. Members of MAN, however, appealed to the Port Authority to grant further exemptions to allow them to use Calabar Port.
The Acting Chairman, MAN Chapter in Cross River and Akwa Ibom States, Mr. Usen Umoh, said there are many manufacturing businesses in both states who are keen to avail the services of Calabar Port now that it has become highly functional, instead of making the arduous journey to the ports of Onne and Badagry.
“We are very happy to note that the Calabar Port, which is nearby, has become functional and active. Increasing numbers of our members have realized this and are patronizing the port. We appeal to the management of Calabar Port to grant our members more waivers on our export-bound goods.
“We also want to take full advantage of the 180-day window granted to local manufacturers to export their goods and also import through the Calabar Port instead of Lagos or Onne ports,” he concluded.
