In a bid to decongest Lagos Port and spread economic activities in Nigeria, the Federal Government has commenced the export of cocoa beans from the Calabar Port to meet the demands of European countries.
The effort according to the government will generate income, provide employment opportunities, and reduce time wastage at the Lone Lagos Port.
The Managing Director of Nigeria Export, Import Bank, Abba Bello, who was at the maiden loading of the ship at the Ecomarine Port stated the position of the Federal Government.
Bello said the giant stride in the country’s export drive in exporting 7,000 Metric Tonnes of cocoa beans to Europe from the Calabar Port was part of President Muhammadu Buhari’s policy on economic diversification.
On their part, Cross River State Commissioner for Commerce, Rosemary Archibong, and the President of Calabar Chamber of Commerce, Industry Mines, and Agriculture, Etta Ndoma-Egba, said the Calabar Port provides economic opportunities on the Gulf of Guinea Corridor for the export of goods and services.
The flag-off of cocoa export from Calabar is coming at a time when Nigeria’s non-oil export business needed a boost due to the global economic crisis caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
