Manufacturers seek improved waiver from NPA to use Calabar ports

The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria has appealed to the management of the Nigerian Ports Authority for more waivers to utilise the Calabar ports.

They made the call on Wednesday when the leadership of the association paid a familiarisation visit to their facility as a way of fostering closer collaboration in Calabar.

The acting Chairman of the Cross River and Akwa Ibom States branch of MAN, Usen Umoh, said there are many manufacturers in both states eager to utilise the services at the Calabar port.

He noted that, since it has become very functional, manufacturers no longer need to undertake stressful journeys to Onne Port in Rivers State and Badagry Port in Lagos State to export or receive their goods, especially given the poor road infrastructure.

He said, “We are very happy to note that the Calabar Port, which is nearby, has since become functional and active.

There has been an increasing number of our members who have realised this and are patronising 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,” Umoh disclosed.

The Calabar port legal officer, Barrister Ekanem Bassey, who represented the Port Manager, Olumati Festus, at the interface, welcomed the MAN delegation.

She confirmed that Calabar Port has become active and very functional, adding that the ocean-going vessels conveying bulk cargo, dry and wet, and general cargoes arriving at Calabar Port are significant.

Bassey also added that 16 to 18 mega ships of up to 190 LOA capacity now berth at the port every month.
“But regretfully, many manufacturers still prefer, in ignorance, to pass through so much stress to move their goods through either Onne or Lagos ports.

“We give lots of concessions and waivers to exporters and importers at the port as a way of discouraging them from incurring huge expenses and stress at other distant ports,” she said.

She further disclosed that they are automated and have three terminals, adding that the issue of dredging has been sorted out.

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

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

He added that they, however, prefer flat-bottom vessels because of the tide, adding that they have equipment that can handle all manner of cargoes