Calabar Port On Course For Economic Prosperity

Nigerian Port Authority (NPA) Port Manager Calabar Port, Festus Olumati, has stated that the volumes of Vessels Berthing at the Calabar Seaport has triggered massive economic prosperity for the Port.

The port manager made the remarks during interactive session with Journalists on Sunday while on an oversight duty at the Port terminal where four vessels were discharging their cargos and petroleum product.

Continuing, Olumati stated, one of the vessels, “MV Desert Unity”, berthed at the Port with 16,000 metric tons of wheat.

While “MV Medi Bangkok” berthed with 18,251 metric tons of general cargo including cars, truck and project pipes” stressing that the other two vessels berthed at the Port with premium motor spirit, while others were still at the Calabar Fairway Bouy and ready to berth for discharge”.

In his words, Olumati said, “Today is Sunday, but there is tremendous activities going on in the port. As you can see, Calabar Port is very viable and working at optimal capacity.

“In line with the mandate given to us by our able managing director, Mohammed Bello-Koko, that the Eastern Port must work, I had to swing into action to make it a reality.

“Also, in line with the mandate of the MD, I went out of the box to hunt for cargos to come into Calabar. The high traffic we see here today at the port is as a result of the mandate given to us by our MD.

“For the past 10 years, we have never had it like this where over five vessels will be berthing and discharging back-to-back at the Calabar Port.

“Special thanks to the MD of NPA for given us all the requirements to work and achieve result. All our submissions to him for the Eastern Port to work have been approved.

“For these vessels to come here, we had to ask for concessional rate from the MD of NPA for those who bring in cargos and he gave the approval”.

The port manager stated that the Port management was utilising the concessional rate strategy to lieu vessels to berth at the Calabar SeaPort stressing that Calabar Port is viable, visible and reliable to use.

While emphasising on modern high-tech equipment to discharge cargos, Olumati said, “As you can see, our workers are effective and efficient and everything is done perfectly. The commitment of staff of NPA and the Eco Marine Terminal workers is quite commendable”.

Olumati averred that so far a detachment of marine police had been deployed to the Port through the MD’s office   to compliment effort of NPA’s police command to ensure that there is maximum security at the ports.