by Mitchelle Uzorka
The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has reiterated it’s commitment to fix Calabar Port for the benefit of Nigerians.
The Managing Director, NPA, Mohammed Bello Koko, disclosed this during a tour of Calabar Port, he said; he will soon sit with the major stakeholders to work out the incentives for operators and the shipping public in a manner that it would trickle down to ordinary Nigerians.
This development is coming as Ecomarine Terminals Limited (ECM) historically berthed a general cargo vessel laden with 204 gas-powered heavy-duty trucks and 22,000 cubic meters of pipes, and some containers, among others.
Koko, who lauded Ecomarine team for their ingenuity to drive traffic to Calabar despite the shallow water challenges, said he would work out necessary incentives in few months.
He said: “We need to sit with the liners too to see how to increase the concessionary rate to ensure that this trickles down to Nigerians. You have no reason to send a container to Lagos and pay millions when you know that when you come to Calabar, you will pay less.
“We will do whatever it takes to get Calabar Port to work. We already have a tugboat that is coming here; we wanted it to come together with some marine vessels that we have imported. We have secured approval already from Nigeria Customs.”
