Calabar Ports receives 16 mega vessels per month – Manager

The Manager of Calabar Port of the Nigerian Ports Authority, Mr Olumati Festus, has disclosed that the Calabar Port has become active and very functional.

He spoke through the Port Legal Officer, Barrister Ekanem Bassey, who represented him when the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) paid a familiarization visit on Wednesday.

She said, “Sixteen to eighteen megaships 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 disclosed that the ocean-going vessels berthing at their port convey bulk cargo, dry and wet, and general cargoes.

She also informed that in order to attract and discourage manufacturers, exporters, and importers from using other ports, the Calabar Port now offers numerous concessions and waivers to help utilize the port.

“This is a way of discouraging importers and exporters from incurring huge expenses and stress at other distant ports.”

She further disclosed that the issue of dredging was being sorted out, as the matter has been withdrawn from the court.

Also speaking, the traffic manager at the port, Albert Alaleye, disclosed that they have held meetings with firms that do imports and exports in both states to sensitize them about the functionality of the port.

Alaleye revealed that the Calabar Port serves the Adamawa/Taraba/Borno axis and confirmed that vessels from the port also service neighboring countries like Cameroon, Gabon, and Equatorial Guinea.

He added that they prefer flat-bottom vessels because of the tide and that they have equipment that can handle all kinds of cargoes.

However, members of MAN appealed to the port management to grant them more waivers to enable them to utilize the Calabar Port.

The acting chairman of the Cross River and Akwa Ibom States branch of MAN, Usen Umoh, said there are many manufacturers in both states who are eager to utilize the services at the Calabar Port since it has become very functional, instead of undergoing the stressful journeys to Onne and Badagry ports.

“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.”