The Cross River House of Assembly has expressed the need for the construction of jetties and dockyards as a deliberate way of upgrading the transportation in the state.
The lawmakers made the expression on Thursday during debate on a motion sponsored by Mr Victor Nsa, the Chairman, House Committee on Transport and Marine Services.
Nsa, representing Calabar South 2 in the assembly, decried the absence of government-owned jetties and dockyards along the Calabar Waterways.
He said that the situation had greatly hampered the effectiveness of water transportation in the state.
“Apart from the ones built by private companies, there are no government jetties for both small and big vessels that come into Calabar to berth.
“Private vessel operators make use of these jetties, and they pay hugely to the owners because of the absence of alternative jetties,” he said.
Another lawmaker, Mr Francis Asuquo said that establishing jetties and dockyards would be of huge economic benefits to the state.
He said that it would enhance the esthetics of the coastline, protect the shoreline against erosion, and create more jobs for the people.
Mr Hilary Bisong, the lawmaker representing Boki 2, reiterated the need to develop the waterway economy of the state.
Bisong said that the construction of jetties would enhance the tourism potentials of the state, and shorten the travel time between Calabar and Uyo.
“It will be of immense benefits to the state, it will increase internally generated revenue, create jobs for the youths and provide efficient transportation system,” he said.
The Speaker, Mr Elvert Ayambem described the motion as timely and important, saying,” the move will add live to the economy of the state ”
Ayambem said that by building jetties and dockyards, the state government would shore up revenue and ameliorate the sufferings of commuters along the Calabar/Itu road.
