Operators of Calabar port, Cross River State, have prompted the Federal Government to immediately initiate dredging of the port, remove all the critical wrecks on the waterways thus enable accommodation of bigger vessels, Thisdaylive reports.
The operators, Ecomarine Terminals Limited, Shoreline Logistics Nigeria Limited and Integrated Logistics Services Limited (INTELS) who are also the concessionaires of Calabar port, have complained about the shallow vessel approach draft of 6.4 meters causing reduction of activities at the port and diminishing its potentials.
The House Committee has directed the three concessionaires at Calabar port to appear in Abuja. Hon Khadija Bukar Abba Ibrahim, chairman of the operators, said the invitation followed the allegations leveled against them by the Port Manager, Mr. Ahmed Dandare, stating that they have failed to carry out some of the core projects in the development plan.
He stressed that current situation in Calabar port shows a bad picture of the port concessioning program of the FG and a sad picture of the privatization and commercialization project of the government over the years.
Ibrahim warned that the committee would be strict with all terminal operators who violate the agreement, since the primary purpose of the concession program by the federal government is to improve the lives of Nigerians.
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Dredging Today Staff, March 9, 2012