Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on
Foreign Affairs and Ad-hoc Committee on Ports, Hon Yusuf Buba Yakub, at the weekend called on the federal government to grant Cross River State a sovereign
guarantee to ensure the construction of its deep seaport-the Bakassi Deep Seaport.
Yakub, who led members of his committee on a courtesy call on
the state Governor, Sir Ben Ayade, said the Bakassi Deep Seaport project should
not be seen as that of the state, rather as one that would benefit the country,
especially northern Nigeria and neighbouring countries of Chad and Niger
Republics.
The committee was in the state as part of their
oversight functions to investigate why ports in the eastern part of the country
were not functioning optimally.
According to him, "This committee will do
everything possible to ensure that the deep seaport project comes to fruition
because the port is not for Cross River State, but Nigeria and the whole of
Africa, and by extension other parts of the world, as many countries want to do
business with Nigeria."
Yakub stated that "a country like China wants to bring
in a lot of heavy machinery to start up the industrialisation of Nigeria but
because we don't have deep seaports, some of the big vessels cannot bring in
these pieces of equipment."
He also applauded Ayade for initiating the 275 kilometre
six-lane superhighway as a solution to the road connectivity between Cross
River State and the northern parts of the country as well as the neighboring
countries as an evacuation corridor for the deep seaport.
The lawmaker, therefore, urged relevant federal government
agencies responsible for the success of the project to live up to their
expectations.
He said: "This is the first time I am meeting a
governor that has great insight not only for the people of the state but for
the entire Nigeria and even Africa at large, because in this 21st century, the
only solution to the myriad of problems engaging our seaports is the depth of
the seaports, and this man has already put this dream to use practically on
ground that in four years, Cross River State is ready to give Nigeria a deep
seaport."
The chairman of the committee, who said he was
impressed with the presentation made on the prospects of the Bakassi deep
seaport, assured the governor of his committee's readiness to support the state
government to realise the project.
"This committee will do everything it can to support and
see that this great dream of the state governor is brought to fruition,"
adding that "I am sure when we present our recommendations, President Muhammadu
Buhari will grant the sovereign guarantee for this project."
On the state of the present Calabar port, the
lawmaker explained that they were visiting the port to ascertain "why it
is not functioning optimally and make recommendations.
"The Calabar port will serve as a service point
when the Bakassi deep seaport comes into existence. It will also be very
strategic and key in delivering the required services in the state, region and
Nigeria at large," Yakub added.
While responding, Ayade disclosed to the committee that
"the Bakassi Deep Seaport is urgent, critical and is for national security
interest," adding that "in some of the countries of the world, where
I have been, it is in such ports that strategic reserves of economic products
and food are kept."
The governor also remarked that "for economic, security
and strategic reasons as well as for political consideration, to put an end to
Boko Haram insurgency, increase productivity and help in the full value of our
mineral resources, the Bakassi Deep Seaport is the only solution."
Making a plea for a sovereign guarantee from the president
through recommendations by the visiting committee, Ayade said: "Cross
River State has 58 percent of the entire forest cover of this country. If you
took our oil wells by force, took our land by force, ceded our territory by
force and we never fought back, the sovereign guarantee which is a signature is
just not too much to grant."
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