Cross River State Government has praised President Bola Tinubu for fulfilling his campaign promise to realise the Bakassi Deep Seaport and to upgrade and modernise the Calabar Port, which has remained underused for years.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on General Duties, Barr Ekpenyong Akiba, made the commendation in Calabar on Friday while responding to the new National Policy on Maritime and Blue Economy strategy introduced by the Federal Government. This strategy aims to upgrade and modernise the Calabar Port, among others, and ensure the completion of the Bakassi Deep Seaport and other deep seaports across the country.
The document unveiled in Lagos on Monday by the Minister for Marine and Blue Economy, Gboyega Oyetola, is part of efforts to reduce delays at seaports, boost investors’ confidence, and reposition Nigeria as a regional maritime hub.
While describing President Tinubu as a promise keeper who is passionate about developing and transforming the country’s socioeconomic fortunes, the governor’s aide urged Nigerians to exercise a little patience for the government to actualise its economic blueprint aimed at positively changing the country’s narrative.
Akiba identified the depth of the Calabar channel as a key factor for accommodating larger ships, alongside the high shipping costs, which contribute to the underutilisation of Calabar Port. He said dredging is necessary to optimise its utilisation.
While emphasising that the completion and modernisation of the port is vital for boosting trade and economic growth, handling larger vessels and improving efficiency, he stated that these efforts would attract more traffic, reduce turnaround times, and enhance overall competitiveness.
He said it would also attract more investment, create jobs for the numerous unemployed youths, and boost the state’s economy.
Furthermore, the Special Adviser emphasised the urgency of speeding up the ongoing construction and rehabilitation work on the Calabar – Itu and Calabar – Ikom highways, the only access roads to neighbouring towns and cities, as vital for improving connectivity and logistics.
The governor’s aide noted that President Tinubu’s administration’s Renewed Hope programme is delivering results, as economic indicators reflect the country’s steady growth, and added that the government deserves commendation for working to ensure that Nigerians can breathe a sigh of relief.
According to him, because of Governor Bassey Otu’s strong affinity with the government at the centre, Cross River has benefited more from federal government projects with the ultimate aim of improving the lives of the citizens.
“As we all know, in two years, Cross River has gained significantly from these federal projects such as the Lagos – Calabar Coastal Highway, the Special Agro Processing Zone, Student Loan scheme, the numerous women empowerment programmes initiated by the wife of the president, among others. If he can achieve these in just two years, then by the end of his second term, Nigeria is definitely going to experience unprecedented and remarkable development.”
“The story continues to change as promised and as contained in the President’s ‘Renewed Hope’ agenda. The governors, irrespective of party lines, now enjoy better allocations from the centre. Now, you can understand why those in the opposition are pushing closer to the President and finding our party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), more attractive, as evidenced in the defections and endorsement of President Tinubu and our indefatigable governor, Senator Bassey Otu, for a second term in 2027,” he said.
