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Shippers Council, others explore ways to optimise Calabar Port use

One day seminar organisered by the Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC) for stakeholders of the Calabar Port, under the Nigeria Port Authority in Cross River State have resolved to cooperate and explore means to bring about optimal operations of the port that is deemed equipped for business.

Available data from the Nigeria Port Authority (NPA) shows that the Calabar Port is functional but under ultilized.

Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer, NSC, Mr. Akutah Pius Ukeyima in welcoming stakeholders to the seminar with the theme: "Export of Agricultural Produce through the Calabar Port: Issues and Prospects" said the aim would not only demystify export processes but encourage more businesses to venture into export trade.

He said: "There is no gainsaying that the proximity of the Calabar Port offers the needed opportunities to businesses in Cross River and adjoining states. Therefore, it is my firm belief that participants will identify the impediments to export, particularly of agricultural produce through the Calabar Port as well as proffer practical and sustainable solutions thereto."

The Port Manager, Calabar Port, Olumati Festus delivered a paper on: Availability and Adequacy of commercial vessels at Calabar Port for export of agricultural produce.  He revealed that 209 vessels berthed at the Port in 2023.

He said a breakdown of that number shows that out of the 209 vessels, 171 were conventional vessels that came with general cargo, PMS and others while 38 vessels came as passenger ferry. Comparatively with 2022, the year 2023 was higher in terms of vessel call and cargo."

He insisted that the Port, though under ultilized, is functional with "all three world class private terminal operators that have facilities for handling/processing agricultural produce for export. These include large volume warehouses, open stacking areas, stuffing areas, general and specialized cargo handling equipment and machinery."

He identified some agricultural products that have so far been exported through the Port so far as palm fruits, palm oil, palm kennel cake, timber logs/wood sample, chewing sticks, processed Cocoa Beans, wheat pellet/processed wheat beans, rubber crumbs, food stuff among a few others.

In the communique, stakeholders agreed that dredging of the Calabar water channel is important but has not actually impeded the operation of the port; rather they insisted that in addition to adequate marketing and lobbying for patronage, the federal government and the state should ensure good access road infrastructure for easy of movement in and out of the port.

The participants commended the NSC efforts to create the platform to harness ideas on ways to promote export of agricultural produce through the Calabar seaport.  They requested that such programmes should be organized from time to time to abridge the information gap.

Also, the participants identified multiple taxes by the State, local government authorities and unreceipted monies paid at multiple road blocks as among the cost elements that make export of produce less competitive in the international produce pricing index, thereby, requesting the Government to streamline the taxes and dismantle such road blocks.

It was advised that exporters of agricultural produce should patronize the services of Export domestic warehouses and export hubs to access professional services that will enable produce undergo proper certification and documentation to meet international standards for shipment.

Exporters were enjoined to take advantage of incentives provided by the Government such as export expansion grants and export development fund to boost participation  in export of agro-produce in the State.

The participants also expressed displeasure at non-availability of liner vessels in the Calabar port and thereby called on the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), Cross River State Government, Terminal Operators and shipping companies to come up with strategies to market the port in order to attract liner vessels to call at the port.

The communique enjoined the stakeholders to leverage on every available platform to present the port in a good light in order to attract more patronage to the port and increase traffic to the port.