Reps. summon NIMASA, Customs, others over discovery of illegal jetties in Calabar. 

The ad-hoc committee set up by the House of representatives to determine the non- viability of the Eastern Ports have summoned government agencies and security agencies over the alleged operations of some illegal jetties at Calabar port channel.

Some of the agencies summoned are the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Nigeria Customs Service, Immigration, the Chief of Naval Staff and the Inspector General of Police to appear before the committee.

Speaking at the weekend when the committee took its ongoing investigation and enquiry to Calabar port, the Committee chairman, Hon. Yusuf Buba Yakub gave the order during a seating at the conference room of Calabar Seaport, Nigeria Port Authority, Calabar.

He said the key security agencies operating in Calabar seaport should appear before it in Abuja on Wednesday, September 26.

Yakub said there are  questionable operations of illegal jetties within the Calabar port channel area, an act adjudged to be a huge economic sabotage to the country.

The committee who was received in NPA Calabar by the Port Manager of Calabar Seaport Mrs. Marie Asien, in a meeting with stakeholders, frowned at the reports of the free operations of illegal jetties within the port area and further directed that “within one month, the security agencies responsible should ensure that no illegal jetty will be seen or reported as operating in Calabar Port area. We want to have the reports after one month in writing, addressed to the House of Representatives.

“This committee came out on this national assignment. It is an ad-hoc committee formed by the House of representatives to investigate and find out why our Eastern Ports are not being used maximally. We started from Lagos port to Warri port to Port Hartcourt Port, Onne Port and today we are in Calabar port.”

He commended Calabar Port Manager for being frank in her briefing. “She has reduced most of our work. Most of the ports we visited, we had to struggle before they will open up to tell us certain essential things,” he said.

However, the committee advised that NPA should increase the 10per cent rebate given to ships coming to Calabar port and ensure that the rebate is for all ships coming to the port, without any categorisation.

“If the rebate can also be increased, that will be good. Our target is to see that Calabar Port is fully functional,” he said.

The committee was also briefed about the myriads of problems hampering operations and functionality of Calabar seaport.