The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has called on the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) to provide improved waivers to encourage greater use of the Calabar ports by manufacturers.
The appeal was made during a familiarization visit by MAN leadership to the Calabar Port on Wednesday, aimed at fostering closer collaboration. Usen Umoh, acting Chairman of the Cross River and Akwa Ibom States branch of MAN, emphasized the importance of the Calabar port for local manufacturers. He highlighted that the port’s functionality now eliminates the need for lengthy trips to Onne Port in Rivers State or Badagry Port in Lagos State for export or import activities, which are complicated further by poor road infrastructure.
“We are very pleased that the Calabar Port has become functional and active. Many of our members are now using the port. We urge the management to grant additional waivers for our export-bound goods,” Umoh said. He also expressed interest in fully utilizing the 180-day window granted to local manufacturers for exporting and importing goods through Calabar Port rather than the more distant Lagos or Onne ports.
Calabar Port legal officer Barrister Ekanem Bassey, representing Port Manager Olumati Festus, confirmed the port’s active status and its capacity to handle significant cargo volumes. “We have 16 to 18 mega ships of up to 190 LOA capacity berthing at the port each month. Despite this, many manufacturers still prefer the distant ports of Onne or Lagos,” she noted. Bassey assured that various concessions and waivers are offered to reduce the costs and stress for exporters and importers.
Bassey also highlighted that the Calabar Port has been automated, has three terminals, and resolved dredging issues. Traffic Manager Albert Alaleye added that efforts are being made to educate local firms about the port’s capabilities, emphasizing that Calabar Port serves not only domestic routes but also international destinations, including neighboring countries like Cameroon, Gabon, and Equatorial Guinea.
