Govt set to dredge Calabar port channel

THE Federal Government has concluded arrangements to commence the dredging of the Calabar port channel to enable bigger ships to berth there.

Between 1996 and 2011, Calabar Port witnessed not less than five unsuccessful attempts to dredge it even though much money was voted and released but nothing tangible was done.

Hence, there were reservations in certain quarters when the Minister of Transport, Idris A. Umar, told the Cross River State governor, Liyel Imoke, during a courtesy call in Calabar that the dredging of the 97-kilometre Calabar Port Channel would soon start and the procurement process for the commencement of the project had been concluded.

Umar also disclosed that efforts were on to start work on the Calabar-North-East rail line, which would boost transportation in that part of the country, adding that the ministry was fully prepared to partner the state to achieve these goals as part of the transformation agenda of the Federal Government.

The minister, who was accompanied by top officials of the ministry as a prelude to a retreat scheduled to hold in Calabar soon, said the retreat would afford the ministry the opportunity to take stock of its activities and reposition to achieve the transformation agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan.

He remarked that he was impressed with the level of developmental activities in the state having known the antecedents of Imoke as a former Minister of Power and Steel.

Responding, Imoke noted that the dredging of the Calabar channel was critical to the development of the key sectors of the state’s economy as its completion and commissioning would boost activities at the Calabar Port Complex.

On the Calabar Free Trade Zone, Imoke said that like other developing economies such as China, a trade zone was supported with an economic zone for its survival.

Imoke commended the minister’s desire to reposition the transport sector, which he said, showed that the commitment of the administration was clear, adding that the North-East rail line under consideration was economically viable and would increase the viability of the Calabar Port Complex.

The governor disclosed that the South-South geo-political zone, under the BRACED Commission, was embarking on a Calabar-Benin-Lagos rail line, would include existing facilities in Aba and Port Harcourt. He added that some states outside the zone could equally key into the project and share the cost.

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