Barrister Fabian Awhen

Generally, seaports constitute the gateway to a nation’s commercial and economic development.

This is because seaports are the terminus of bulk trade.

Retrospectively, therefore, when the Calabar Seaport was commissioned in the early eighties, it buoyed the expectations of Cross Riverians and indeed Nigerians in the catchments area that a new era of industry, wealth, and commerce had been ushered in.

This expectation was simply demonstrated by the siting of certain businesses relating to maritime.

For example, Calabar the State Capital experienced an upsurge in clearing and forwarding agencies while several warehouses were built in different parts of the town.

Also, hotels and the hospitality industry positioned themselves in readiness for the expected boom.

The confidence of the indigenes of the state was further boosted when the Calabar Seaport was designed first as a part of the Export Processing Zone and later Free Trade Zone (FTZ).

The intention is that export and import activities will flourish in the zone.

Unfortunately, none of these policy thrusts have been fully realized.

Thus, leaving the seaport as it were a near white elephant project.

The near absence of maritime activity at Calabar Seaport has shattered the aspirations of attaining great economic heights, which were to have been engendered by the increased trade and transportation activities at the Seaport.

From records, the only time that there were increased maritime activities since Calabar Port was declared Free Port by the Federal Government was in the last quarter of year Two Thousand and One when a merchant ship brought in about One Thousand Five Hundred Tokumbo Cars.

We must stress that the arrival of the ship impacted positively the economy of the catchment states of the Port providing jobs for several jobless people.

We also recall with nostalgia the boom in electronic trade, used carpets, and electrical equipment.

And to make Cross Riverians take centre stage in the ensuing maritime activities, the State Government provided free training for some people on the rudiments of clearing and forwarding agencies.

Today it is as if we have lost the gains or strides made to keep the Calabar Free Port busy.

While we acknowledge the factors that have been adduced as the impediments to the full utilization of the Calabar, Free Port we must align ourselves with the demands of an effective maritime service.

Notably the liberalization of the port of entry of imported goods like essential items on the imports list and the dredging of the Calabar Sea channel at least twice a year to make way for ocean-going liners.

There is also the need for the Federal Government to dualize without further delay the Calabar-Ikot Ekpene-Aba Road, and the Calabar-Ogoja-Katsina Highway as well as the reconstruction of the Ikom Bridge for free movement of bulk goods.

The only way for the Federal Government to assure Cross River State that it is an equal partner in the gains and pains of Nigeria is for it to implement these advocacies to launch the Calabar Port into full maritime activities.

Lastly, it is time Cross Riverian joined the Export-Import business to enable them to become active participants in the use of the Calabar Seaport.

EteteOnline Team

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