N20bn Calabar Port Channel Dredging Runs into Trouble Waters

John Iwori

The N20 billion Calabar port dredging has run into trouble waters as work has stopped at the site four months after it started,THISDAY investigation has revealed.

Workers of the contractor handling the project who commenced work last December were given time to go for the Yuletide so that they could spend time with their families and return after the New Year celebrations but they did not return.

Since the workers failed to return to site, resident of the ancient city have continue to wonder what wouldl be the fate of the firm in the months ahead.

President, Cross River Shippers’ Association, Mr. Mike Ogodo, said definitely, all stakeholders are concerned because the contract had already been awarded.

“We want to get value for money. I was told by the port managers, EcoMarine, that the workers have not returned to the site since January 2015 perhaps due to the general elections. We cannot tell the extent of work though; the technical details of how deep or wide the channel is may not be available to EcoMarine. We do not know the extent of work that has been done. What we are aware of though is that they started late last year and stopped in January,” he said.

THISDAY had reported that the N20 billion contract was awarded in 2014. It was for the dredging of the port channel to pave way for ocean going vessels to navigate into port without any hitch. The proposed dredging project was due to the shallowness of the channel leading to the port.

It was not the first time the federal government was doing so as it at various times in last 18 years, awarded contracts for the dredging of the channel. The present contract was expected to last two years and increase the draught of the channel from eight metres to 10 metres.