There are serious plans by the Cross Rivers State government to float a shipping line to drive West Coast trading amongst neighbouring maritime nations.
The State Governor, Professor Ben Ayade, announced the plan on Friday at a meeting with 21 indigenous Merchant Navy Maritime Students from the Philippines. They were on a courtesy visit to his office, in Calabar.
He assured the visitors of his government’s continuous support for them in their studies and his administration’s resolve to the creation of Maritime Services Department in the state.
Governor Ayade further told the visitors that, the Maritime department would oversee the affairs of the students and ensure that they got to the peak of their chosen career.
Head of the delegation, Deck Cadet Olom Gabriel Odey, thanked the governor for the role he played in facilitating their admission into Maritime Universities of Cebu and Lecyean, both in the Philippines, as a serving Senator.
The trainees further requested for an opportunity to have sea time experience which is the perquisite for their training programme.
It was not clear if the state government has discussed the plan with the federal minister of Transportation for modalities.
