South-South Chambers seek FG, stakeholders’ collaboration to boost growth
The Coalition of South-South Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines, and Agriculture (COSSCCIMA) has called for collaboration between the government, private sector players, and maritime industry stakeholders to stimulate economic growth by positioning the South-South region as a major player in Nigeria’s maritime and export landscape. They made the call recently during the 2nd and 3rd quarter council meeting held in Calabar, Cross River State.
The meeting, which was hosted by the Calabar Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines, and Agriculture (CALCCIMA), addressed critical issues impacting the South-South region’s business environment, particularly focusing on enhancing economic development. The meeting also emphasised the critical need for a robust Public-Private Partnership (PPP) to unlock the full potential of the Calabar Port and address the identified challenges.
A communique by the president of COSSCCIMA, Indutimi Komonibo, disclosed that during a tour and analysis of the challenges hindering the optimal performance of the Calabar Port, the participants identified several critical impediments, which included Infrastructural Deficiencies: Inadequate maintenance of the channel and insufficient awareness of the terminals; Dredging Issues: An urgent need for regular dredging to maintain optimal water depth for larger vessels; Operational Inefficiencies: Bureaucratic bottlenecks and lack of skilled manpower; Security Challenges: Piracy, theft, and other security threats affecting terminal operations, among others.
The chambers identified the opportunities for international trade despite the challenges, recognising the immense potential of the Calabar Port as a gateway for international trade, especially in exports. COSSCCIMA viewed that the region’s rich agricultural resources, abundant mineral deposits, and emerging industrial sector present significant opportunities for export-driven growth.
The meeting pointed out key export potentials, which include Agricultural Products: Palm oil, cocoa, rubber, and seafood; Solid Minerals: Tin, columbite, and limestone; Manufactured Goods: Processed agricultural products, wood products, and light manufacturing outputs. COSSCCIMA emphasised the critical need for a robust Public-Private Partnership (PPP) to unlock the full potential of the Calabar Port and address the identified challenges. The chambers viewed that such a partnership would leverage private sector expertise, capital, and efficiency to complement government efforts in port development and management. It was agreed that COSSCCIMA would facilitate such engagements.
The coalition therefore adopted recommendations to revitalise the Calabar Port and others and to stimulate international trade. The recommendations included Infrastructure Upgrade: Prioritise investments in port infrastructure, including dredging, berth expansion, and modern cargo handling equipment; Ease of Doing Business: Streamline customs and all other procedures, reduce bureaucratic bottlenecks (largely due to poor political will at the national level), and enhance port efficiency; Security Enhancement: Strengthen security measures to protect lives and property within the port and its environs; Capacity Building for Shippers to create awareness of the availability and visibility of the Calabar Port and terminals; Export Promotion: A lot needs to be done by the government through the Nigerian Export Promotion Council and the Nigerian Export-Import Bank to provide incentives and support to exporters, including access to finance, market information, and export facilitation services; PPP Framework: Develop a comprehensive PPP framework to attract private investment in port operations and development; Harness the potential of the blue economy for economic benefits.
Going forward, the coalition called for the collective responsibility of stakeholders to contribute to the revitalisation of the Calabar Port, urging government agencies, private sector players, and maritime industry stakeholders to unite in their efforts to implement the outlined recommendations. “By working together, we can unlock the immense potential of the Calabar Port, create jobs, stimulate economic growth, and position the South-South region as a major player in Nigeria’s maritime and export landscape.”