Reps probes abandoned Calabar Seaport dredging contracts

By Christiana Ekpa

The House of Representatives on Thursday launched an investigation into the abandoned contracts for the dredging of the Calabar seaport in Cross River State, awarded in 2006 and 2014. The House Committee on Ports and Harbour has been tasked with determining why the contractors abandoned the projects and reporting back within four weeks.
The House also urged the Ministry of Transport to re-award the dredging contract to a reputable company, with a mandate to complete the project within a specific timeframe. The Nigerian Ports Authority has been directed to supervise the project to ensure a standard depth is established, enabling larger vessels to berth.
The resolutions followed a motion sponsored by Hon. Alex Egbona and seven other members from Cross River State, highlighting the importance of completing the abandoned dredging of the Calabar Seaport. The motion noted that the Calabar Seaport, the oldest in Nigeria, has failed to live up to its full potential due to sabotage and lack of rehabilitation.
Despite various government proclamations and contracts awarded in 2006 and 2014, the port remains in a severe state. The House expressed concern that the current situation has led to congestion at Lagos Ports and prolonged waiting times for goods clearance.
The completion of the Calabar Seaport dredging project is expected to decongest Lagos Ports and reduce hardships for importers and exporters.
The sponsors are all the members of the House from Cross River State.
The House noted that the Calabar Seaport is the oldest seaport in Nigeria shipping goods such as palm oil to Europe and other parts of the world as far back as the sixteenth century.
It also noted that the port was privately administered and operated by various shipping companies, including John Holt, until December 1969, when the Federal Government took over the port facilities from the erstwhile operators and vested them in the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA).
It further noted that the modernization and expansion of the Port complex were embarked upon under the 3rd National Development Plan of 1975–1980 and commissioned by General Olusegun Obasanjo on 9 June 1979.