Nigerian Port Authority (NPA) has called on the Federal Government to expedite action in the dredging of Calabar Sea Port, to facilitate influx of bigger vessels to the port.
Calabar Port Manager, Mr. Festus Olumati made the call when he received members of the House of Representatives’ ad-hoc committee on Ports and Harbour led by its chairman, Hon. Nnolim Nnaji, who were on investigative visit to the Calabar Port complex, on Thursday.
“The most critical limitation facing Calabar Port is the current shallow draft which is as low as 5.2 metres at low tide and 6.2metres at high tide,” Olumiti said.
The port manager also advocated the reconstruction of port access road from Calabar to Uyo and connectivity to the national rail link.
Olumati decried deplorable state of access road leading to the port which he noted to be impeding the full potential of the port, calling for urgent attention for the port to witness a turnaround.
“In the past 25 years, we have never received any bigger vessels here, we use techniques to bring in vessels once the tide is high, any attempt to bring in vessels when the tide is low, it goes around,” he maintained.
While emphasing on the need for construction of finger Jetty for dry docking of vessels, the port manager also appealed for provision of security boats to secure the water channel.
Olumati further stressed on the need to allow certain commodity berth at Calabar Port, appealing for the berthing of ro-ro and containerised cargo vessels.
Reacting, chairman of the committee, Hon. Nnaji assured that his committee is currently discussing with the Senate Committee on Marine Transport for something to be done about dredging the Calabar Port.
“We may increase the budget for dredging or do something else about it.
Dredging of Calabar Port stopped due to issues that contractor had with Port authority, and they went to court. But matter was taken out and settled out of court.
“Luckily today, dredging of Calabar Port is in the budget,” the committee chairman maintained.
The Cross River State Deputy Governor, Peter Odey, who joined the committee members to inspect the port complex, pledged the collaboration of the state government with the port management to ensure it functions effectively.
