Posted on July 21, 2025
The Paramount Ruler of Calabar South Local Government Area, Etubom Nyong Effiom Okon Etim Ewa 1, has called for the release of the report of the House of Representatives Committees on Ports, Harbor and Waterways, as well as Public Procurement, to investigate the $56 million contract for the dredging of Calabar Port Channel awarded in 2006.
The monarch made the call on the sidelines after a presentation during a study tour by the Senior Executive Course 47 of the Nigeria Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) to the Nigeria Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Calabar Area Office, weekend.
He recalled that the House had in 2016 unanimously adopted a motion sponsored by Daniel Effiong Asuquo (PDP, Cross River), who told the parliament that the contract remains uncompleted, even after the Federal Government awarded another contract in November 2014 at N20 billion to complete the project.
Etubom Ewa said the House had, on 16th January 2016, in its plenary session, mandated its Committees on Ports, Harbor and Waterways, as well as Public Procurement, to investigate the $56 million contract for the dredging of Calabar Port Channel awarded in 2006, and since then, nobody has heard the outcome of that investigation.
Specifically, the House said the contract was awarded at the initial sum of N3 billion in 1996 but was later re-awarded in 2006 at $56 million, which is about N11 billion.
Asuquo told the lawmakers that the contract, signed by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), and the Calabar Channel Management, was for the port to be dredged up to 9.8 metres, adding that though the 9.8 metres was not achieved, NPA had already paid the full contract sum of N20 billion to the contractor, who seemed to have abandoned the project.
He noted that the South-South, South-East, and North-Central, which stand to benefit from the dredging, have been denied the opportunity.
The Paramount Ruler lamented that the non-completion of the project for about two decades now was putting great pressure on Lagos ports, as well as throwing up huge logistical challenges and needless costs, as cargoes meant for Calabar Port are routed through the already congested Lagos ports.
Beyond this, the traditional ruler noted that this has also reduced revenue for the port and related agencies, hampered economic activity in the region, and caused a decline in business operations due to the inability to accommodate larger vessels—leading to cargo diversion to other ports and hindering the port’s potential to attract investment and generate revenue.
The monarch, therefore, called for a thorough investigation into the processes that led to the award of the contract to a company that does not seem to have the competence and equipment to properly execute the contract. If found culpable, he advocated for outright contract termination, debarment, and financial liabilities for breaches of contract and violations of public procurement laws, to serve as a deterrent to others.
He thanked President Bola Tinubu for fulfilling his campaign promise to realise the Bakassi Deep Seaport and to upgrade and modernise the Calabar Port, which has remained underused for years. He also praised the administration’s Renewed Hope agenda, which he observed is yielding results, as economic indices point to the country’s steady growth.
He said, “For me, I think this government deserves commendation for working to ensure that Nigerians heave a sigh of relief. Under this administration, Cross River State has immensely benefitted from Federal Government projects aimed at bringing unprecedented and remarkable development to the state.”
Etubom Ewa 1 also praised Governor Bassey Otu for his proactive leadership and partnership with the Federal Government, which he noted have helped in attracting investments and projects to the state.
