The Cross River State Governor, Bassey Otu, has flagge-off the Bakassi Deep Sea Port Area (BDSA) hydrographic survey on Saturday, December 21, 2024, at the Nigerian Navy Ship VICTORY Jetty in Calabar.
This significant event marked the official commencement of the survey, paving the way for the construction of a 20m deep sea port at Bakassi.
The ceremony was attended by high-profile dignitaries, including the State Governor, Otu, who has been a strong proponent of the project.
Other notable attendees included the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla, represented by Rear Admiral Saheed Akinwande, the Hydrographer of the Federation, Rear Admiral Ayo Olugbode, and representatives from AFREXIM and ARISE IIP.
The event commenced with opening remarks by the Surveyor General of Cross River State, followed by speeches from the Special Assistant on International Cooperation and Investment CRS, the Hydrographer of the Federation, and the representative of the CNS.
Governor Otu in his speech, emphasized the importance of the project for the state’s economic development.
After the speeches, the Governor and his entourage were taken on a tour of the hydrographic survey charts and equipment on display.
The flag-off ceremony proper was then conducted onboard NNS LANA around the BDSA, marking the official start of the survey.
The Bakassi Deep Sea Port project has been hailed as a game-changer for Nigeria’s maritime future, with the potential to boost shipping activities in the eastern part of the country.
The project is expected to facilitate the export of key agricultural products, enhance Nigeria’s competitive edge in the global market, and significantly boost foreign exchange earnings.
With the flag-off ceremony marking the commencement of the survey, the project is now one step closer to realization.
The successful completion of the Bakassi Deep Sea Port project, NewsNGR reports, is expected to have a significant impact on the economy of Cross River State and Nigeria as a whole.