MINISTER of Transport, Senator Idris Umar, has said that the dredging of Calabar ports was part of Federal Government efforts to boost economic activities of the South-South   and South-East geo-political zones of the country.

Umar , when he received the delegation of  traditional rulers from the South-South and South-East geo-political zones led by Chairman of the South-South Monarchs Forum, King  Edmund Dakoru, in Abuja, said the President’s decision to approve the dredging of the Calabar channel was a major feat and in recognition of the cooperation given to his administration by the zones, adding that the Calabar Port was strategically important to the zones and the country.

He noted that the country had suffered enough neglect of its coastal waterways, “which is supposed to be a veritable means of economic transformation but with this dredging now, the economic activities will spring up again, creating massive employment opportunities in the area and in the whole country.”