The Manager of Nigerian Port Authority (NPA), Calabar, Mr Festus Olumati has said that the port is viable and working at optimal capacity.
The Calabar port Manager made this known yesterday to Newsmen at the Port Terminal while inspecting the discharge of about five vessels of various cargos and petroleum products.
Olumati explained that one of the vessels, MV Desert Unity”, berthed at the Port with 16,000 metric tons of wheat, while “MV Medi Bangkok” berthed with 18,251 metric tons of general cargo including cars, trucks and project pipes.
And that the other two vessels were berthed at the Port with premium motor spirit, while others were still at the Calabar Fairway Bouy and ready to berth for discharge.
“For the past 10 years, we have never had it like this where over five vessels will be berthing and discharging back-to-back at the Calabar Port.
“Today is Sunday, but there is tremendous activities going on in the port. As you can see, Calabar Port is very viable and working at optimal capacity.
“In line with the mandate given to us by our able Managing Director, Mr Mohammed Bello-Koko, that the Eastern Port must work, I had to swing into action to make it a reality.
“I went out of the box to hunt for cargos to come into Calabar. The high traffic we see here today at the port is as a result of the mandate given to us by our MD.
“Special thanks to the MD of NPA for giving us all the requirements to work and achieve results. All our submissions to him for the Eastern Port to work have been approved.
“For these vessels to come here, we had to ask for a concessional rate for those who bring in cargos and he gave the approval,” he said.
He said the concessional rate was part of strategies to woo vessels to berth in the port, adding that it has shown tremendous improvement from what it used to be.
He added “As you can see, our workers are effective and efficient and everything is done perfectly. The commitment of the staff of NPA and the Eco Marine Terminal workers is quite commendable.”
