…Hails Visionary Push for Maritime Progress
By Henry Ikenna
Governor Bassey Edet Otu of Cross River State has thrown his full weight behind the Federal Authorities’s newly unveiled strategic roadmap prioritizing the completion of the Bakassi Deep Seaport, describing the transfer as visionary and lengthy overdue.
The roadmap, outlined within the Nationwide Coverage on Marine and Blue Economic system, was launched not too long ago in Lagos by the Minister of Marine and Blue Economic system, Mr. Gboyega Oyetola. The coverage identifies Bakassi amongst 9 deep seaports designated for accelerated improvement, signaling what Oyetola described as “a brand new daybreak” in Nigeria’s maritime sector.
“This coverage indicators a brand new daybreak for the sector,” Oyetola stated through the coverage presentation. “Our goal is obvious: to catalyze sustainable improvement by accelerating the completion of vital deep seaports that may drive financial transformation.”
Governor Otu, reacting to the announcement, described the Bakassi Deep Seaport because the “crown jewel” of his administration’s financial blueprint. He lauded the federal initiative as each well timed and essential, stressing that the challenge holds transformative potential for Cross River State and the nation at massive.
“This challenge shouldn’t be solely central to the economic way forward for Cross River,” the governor acknowledged, “it’s a nationwide asset able to unlocking regional prosperity and redefining Nigeria’s place in world maritime commerce.”
Otu decried the present state of Nigeria’s maritime logistics, revealing that solely 21 per cent of transport cargoes really arrive by means of Nigerian ports, with the remaining 79 per cent diverted to ports in neighbouring nations like Benin, Togo, and Ghana.
Based on the governor, the issue stems from the insufficient depth and restricted capability of Nigeria’s present ports, that are unable to accommodate trendy, bigger vessels. “The implication,” he defined, “is that cargoes meant for Nigerian ports are smuggled into the nation from our neighbours. 100 per cent of these cargoes have been initially meant for Nigeria.”
He emphasised that the Bakassi Deep Seaport, as soon as accomplished, would finish this “transport nightmare” and reposition Nigeria as a dominant power in West and Central African maritime commerce.
Strategically situated on the gateway of the Gulf of Guinea, the Bakassi Deep Seaport is projected to function a significant logistics hub for the South-East, South-South, and Northern commerce corridors. The port has lengthy been touted as a game-changer able to driving industrialization and job creation throughout the area.
The Nationwide Coverage on Marine and Blue Economic system additionally targets a 7 per cent annual progress within the sector, leveraging Nigeria’s 850-kilometre shoreline and intensive inland waterways. Along with Bakassi, different seaports slated for improvement embrace Badagry, Olokola, Ondo, Bonny, Burutu, Benin, Ibom, and Agge.
Stakeholders consider the renewed federal dedication now gives the institutional assist and political will obligatory for the complete realization of the Bakassi Deep Seaport and different vital maritime infrastructure tasks.
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