The enhancement of efficiency at Calabar Port has been strongly urged by maritime stakeholders, who have called upon the Federal Government of Nigeria to ensure prioritization of the urgent dredging of the port. Mr. Dayo Balogun, the Managing Director of ECM Terminals has also expressed his belief that the dredging of Calabar Port would have a tremendous positive impact on the economy of the nation. However, this project is yet to be carried out at the port.
According to reports, the progress of the Calabar channel dredging project has been hindered due to ongoing litigation between the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the contractor responsible for the task. Despite the contract being granted several years ago, Managing Director Mohammed Bello-Koko recently clarified that the dispute has resulted in a standstill for the project. Bello-Koko divulgated an intriguing detail, stating that the contractor and the Federal Government have engaged in an amicable resolution process.
Calabar port is conveniently situated near bustling commercial centres.
This amicable resolution was made outside of the courtroom with regards to the contract. According to Balogun, enhancing the depth of the Calabar Port would not only facilitate feeding importers from the Southeast and other regions in the country, but also ensure their needs are met adequately. Calabar’s advantageous location as the nearest port to the Northeast region makes it a strategic hub for economic endeavours. Regrettably, Douala in Cameroon predominately cater to the market in the Northeast part of Nigeria.
Hence, this inadvertently leads to financial losses for Nigeria, as cargo transiting through Douala drains revenue into Cameroon. In addition to its close proximity to the Northeast, the port is conveniently situated near bustling commercial centres such as Aba and Onitsha. It is also essential to determine the proportion of Nigeria cargo that is destined for the primary and secondary markets of the Northeast, Northwest, and Southeast regions, as these areas are pivotal for eastern ports.
There exists a natural constraint when it comes to upgrading the port.
Mr. Dayo Balogun, MD, ECM Terminals emphasized that the investment in the dredging of Calabar Port holds great potential as it can alleviate the financial burden and inconvenience faced by importers in these areas when it comes to retrieving containers from Lagos State. Furthermore, it is imperative to underscore the significance of assigning ports, a sentiment voiced by Mr. Biodun Gbadamosi, who previously served as the General Manager for Western Ports at the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA).
He additionally pressed for the government to step up its efforts in guaranteeing the establishment of an efficient railway system that connects to ports and enables seamless transportation of goods. Designating Calabar Port as a lighter terminal is a sensible choice, he said, as he acknowledged its inherent advantages. Yet, there exists a natural constraint when it comes to upgrading the port. Investing excessively might lead to a detrimental outcome in terms of financial return.
A crucial aspect to take into account is the cargo processing volume.
An effective approach would be to enhance the scope of shipping endeavours by expanding their scale and magnitude, while also considering the possibility of implementing a restricted time frame for incentivizing growth. The crucial aspect to take into account is the cargo processing volume as well. According to him, it is imperative to acknowledge the government’s commitment to efficient railway transportation to and from these ports, as well as the existence of a well-established road network.
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