The Cross River State Government has expressed concern over the poor condition of the road connecting Calabar Port, stating that the delay in completing construction work along the Calabar-Otu highway is hindering optimal port operations.

The state Commissioner for Commerce, Dr Abigail Duke Orok, who stated this during an interview in Calabar, highlighted the crucial role of Calabar Port as a key evacuation route for Nigeria’s Eastern and Northern regions.

She called on the relevant authorities to take swift action to improve the port’s efficiency.

The commissioner, who lauded the All Progressives Congress-led government for prioritising people-oriented programmes and policies aimed at uplifting the standard of living of citizens, called for more support for the government to enable it to provide more dividends of democracy to the citizenry.

Orok also praised President Bola Tinubu for keeping to his electioneering campaign promise to make Calabar Port viable. She stated that the completion of the Bakassi Deep Seaport necessitated the speedy completion of the ongoing road construction work on the Calabar-Itu highway to ensure optimal port operations.

She lauded Governor Bassey Otu for facilitating a peaceful resolution to the dredging of the Calabar Port Channel. She expressed hope that upon completion of the work, the port would experience a boom in business.