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• Tinubu to perform groundbreaking Friday
From Aniekan Aniekan, Calabar
Cross River State Governor, Bassey Otu, has described the proposed Bakassi Deep Seaport as a game-changer that will restore lost economic opportunities to the state, revive a centuries-old trade corridor and position Nigeria as a major maritime and commercial hub in the Gulf of Guinea.
Otu said the project, whose symbolic groundbreaking is scheduled to be performed by President Bola Tinubu on Friday, November 13, would open new opportunities in shipping, commerce, transportation, logistics and employment, while helping to address the economic setbacks suffered by communities following Nigeria’s loss of the Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroon.
Speaking during an inspection of the project site ahead of the ceremony, the governor expressed excitement over the prospects of the seaport, saying its development would restore the commercial importance of a historic trade route and stimulate economic activities across several sectors.
“I am so excited; I am so elated because this is a game-changer. You will know that this trade route is over 600 years old, and reviving it is something wonderful that is going to happen to the people of this area,” he said.
The governor explained that the project would create a major maritime gateway for international trade, attract investments and strengthen commercial links between Nigeria and other countries along the Gulf of Guinea.
He said its significance extended beyond infrastructure development to the restoration of economic opportunities for communities affected by the loss of Bakassi, whose inhabitants had continued to identify with Nigeria despite the historical challenges associated with the territorial dispute.
The Bakassi Peninsula was ceded to Cameroon following the October 10, 2002 judgment of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which awarded sovereignty over the disputed territory to Cameroon. Nigeria formally transferred authority over the peninsula in August 2008 under the Greentree Agreement signed by both countries in June 2006.
The development resulted in the displacement of many Nigerians from the peninsula, with Cross River bearing much of the burden of accommodating and resettling affected communities.
Against this background, the deep seaport project is expected to strengthen the state’s maritime economy, generate employment and create new commercial opportunities for communities within the coastal corridor.
Otu acknowledged that the project was initiated under his predecessor, Ben Ayade, in 2018 as part of efforts to reposition Cross River as a major maritime and logistics destination.
He said his administration had sustained the vision through engagements with development partners, international stakeholders and financial institutions to establish the necessary financing and operational structures for the project.
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“We are totally prepared,” the governor declared, explaining that considerable efforts had gone into securing financing, attracting credible development partners and putting appropriate institutional arrangements in place.
The proposed seaport forms part of Cross River’s longstanding efforts to revive its maritime economy and strengthen its competitiveness in international trade, particularly following the decline in the commercial importance of the Calabar Port.
For decades, Calabar Port has faced operational challenges associated with inadequate channel depth and the need for regular dredging, which have limited its ability to accommodate larger vessels and compete effectively with some of Nigeria’s major seaports.
The Bakassi project is consequently expected to expand maritime capacity, improve cargo-handling opportunities and provide an alternative gateway for businesses in the South South, South East and parts of the North Central geopolitical zones, while strengthening trade connections with neighbouring countries.
Otu disclosed that his administration had commenced training programmes to prepare residents, particularly young people and artisans, for employment opportunities expected from the construction and eventual operation of the seaport.
“We had already started training some people, but we will now double up in terms of artisans’ training and different capacities of workforce engagement that are going to open up,” he said.
The governor explained that the training would be expanded after the groundbreaking to equip more Cross River residents with technical and professional skills required in construction, marine operations, logistics and other supporting industries.
He stressed that the objective was not merely to establish a world-class maritime facility but also to ensure that its economic benefits translated into jobs, business opportunities, skills acquisition and improved living standards for the people.
Otu expressed confidence that the commencement of construction would attract fresh investments, stimulate commercial activities and accelerate economic development across the state, with corresponding benefits for Nigeria’s maritime and transportation sectors.
He described the seaport as a strategic investment in Nigeria’s future and an opportunity to restore Cross River’s historical importance as a commercial gateway to the Gulf of Guinea.
According to him, the project represents far more than a major infrastructure undertaking, as it offers an opportunity to restore the state’s historical economic relevance and establish Cross River as a leading maritime and commercial destination, with far-reaching benefits for regional trade, investment and sustainable development.
