By Sunny Joseph
Nigeria as a country is so big that one state's
population is more than so many countries in Africa, by implication it means to
service her people; more infrastructures need to be put in place.
The major seaports in Nigeria servicing over
180Million people excluding our neighboring countries who also depend on
imports through Nigeria are Apapa Wharf Seaport and Tin Can Seaport both in
Lagos State.
This is why Lagos is one of the most populated
and richest state in Nigeria despite it is Nigeria one of the smallest state in
terms of land mass.
Not until
the recent discovery of small quantity of crude oil deposit in Badagry, Lagos
State has no Natural resources. What is the source of Lagos State Revenue?
Simple: the Seaports and their good tax system is their main source of revenue.
I listened to the Managing Director (MD) of Nigeria Port Authority (NPA) Hadiza Bala Usman on Television where she state categorically that Calabar Seaport is the Second Largest Seaport in Nigeria if completed; that the Seaport will service all the South- Eastern States, the South South States, Majority of the Northern States and some of our Neighboring countries like Cameroun, Chad and Niger Republic. She pointed out that the Federal Government is ready to take 60% of the total Cost of Calabar deep Seaport. Wow! That's great News for my dear State.
What then are the benefits of Calabar Deep
Seaport?
From experience I discovered that so many small
scale businesses will spring up in the State as a result of the Seaport, in
Lagos I interacted with a few young guys who have one or Two photocopier
machines in small offices at the Apapa Wharf Seaport, they told me sometimes they
make about N7000 to N10000 daily, there are those who sell stamps,
Stationeries, food, foodstuff, Recharge cards, and several other things at the
Seaport.
Those with good computer centers who print out information and type
documents also make good money from the seaport. If the Calabar Seaport is
fully completed, more than 30000 jobs will be created directly or indirectly as
a result of the Seaport.
Secondly, Calabar Seaport will reduce the cost
of transportation for some of our importers from South-East and South- South.
The cost of transporting a 40ft container from Lagos to any State in the
South-East and South-South is Approximately N350, 000 per 40tons, this
transportation cost will come down to as low as N150,000 or less if the Calabar
seaport is functional.
This will even reduce the selling price of these
imported goods to our people. We can attest to the fact that the Major
importers in Nigeria are the Igbos and Calabar Seaport is just at their
backyard, if Calabar can get just 30% of the Market Share of Lagos through the
deep Seaport then our State will witness a great Economic boom. Most markets in
Lagos are developed by the Igbos because of the Apapa Wharf seaport to enable
then sell their goods, they will gladly do the same thing in Cross River State
if the Seaport is ready for use.
Majority of the buildings and Estates in Lagos
are also owned by the Igbos as a result of the high Migration to Lagos. The
Seaport will equally bring about infrastructural development in the state, Many
Shipping Companies will Establish their offices in Calabar thereby creating
employment.
Thirdly, Government revenue will increase greatly
from Personal Income tax and corporate taxes and other levies.
This is what
makes Lagos State one of the richest in the country. A lot of revenue can be
generated from Seaport activities, Singapore as a country generates most of her
income through the Seaports. Cross River State stand a chance to compete
favorably with Lagos if this Project is fully implemented.
The Micro Small and Medium Scale Enterprises
will take a new face in the State, the drive and thrift of this sector of the
economic will be unprecedented. It will revitalized the zeal of our youth to be
self-employed and contribute greatly to the State Economy. Many opportunities
for income generation will emerged.
The Superhighway will connect the State with the
Northern part of the Country thereby bringing that Segment of the Market to the
State as well. You will agree with me that the Northern part of the country is
highly populated and can bring so much to the table. Cross River State holds
the Comparative edge to Lagos in terms of Nearness to the North.
This automatically wins that wing of the Market
segmentation to Cross River. The North also connects us with other neighboring
Countries like Niger, Chad and Northern Cameroun. Calabar deep Seaport can take
over the Market from Lagos within a short while judging from our Comparative
Advantage in terms of Larger Land Mass and more conducive weather and
topography.
All these and more will surely portray Cross
River State as not just the best Tourist Destination but also the most
industrialized State in the Country. Our digital Governor H.E Prof Ben Ayade is
committed to making this happen, he needs the Support of every well meaning
Cross Riverian to succeed. These Major Projects he has identified will
definitely bring Cross River State out of Penury and set the State on Course
for vibrant economic and social development.
Sunny Joseph
Entrepreneur, Business Developer and Life Coach
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