MAN partners NPA to enable members utilise Calabar Port

Members of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) have indicated their willingness to partner with Calabar Port to enable them to utilise the Calabar Ports.

They made the call when the leadership of the Association paid a familiarization visit to the facilities as a way of making closer collaboration.

Usen Umoh, acting chairman of Cross River and Akwa Ibom States branch of MAN, said there are many manufacturers in both States who are eager to utilise the services at the Calabar Port since it has become very functional instead of undergoing all the stressful journeys to Onne Port in Rivers State and Badagry Port in Lagos State to export or receive their goods with attendant bad road infrastructure.

“We are very happy to note that the Calabar Port which is nearby has since become functional and active. There have been increasing numbers of our members that have realised this and are patronizing the port. We appeal to the management of Calabar Port to grant our members more waivers on our export-bound goods.

“We also want to take full advantage of the 180 days window granted local manufacturers to export their goods and also import through the Calabar Port instead of Lagos or Onne ports”, he said.

Ekanem Bassey, Calabar Port Legal Officer, who represented the Port Manager, Olumati Festus, at the interface, welcomed the MAN delegation.

She confirmed that “Calabar Port has since become active and very functional.

“16 to 18 mega ships of up to 190 LOA capacity now berth at the port every month. But regretfully many manufacturers still prefer, in ignorance, to pass through so much stress to move their goods through either Onne or Lagos ports.

“The ocean-going vessels conveying bulk cargo, dry and wet and General cargoes arriving at Calabar port is huge.

“We give lots of concessions and waivers to exporters and importers at the Port as a way of discouraging them from going through huge expenses and stress at other distant ports.”

She further noted that the ports are automated and have three terminals, adding that the issue of dredging had been sorted out.

Also speaking, Albert Adeleye, the traffic manager, stated that they had held meetings with firms that do imports and exports in both States so as to sensitise them about the functionality of the Port.

Alaleye said that the Calabar Port serves Adamawa/Taraba/Borno axis, confirming that vessels from the Port also service neighbouring countries like Cameroon, Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.