Security concern raises water transport cost by 50% in Calabar, Akwa Ibom

The cost of travelling by water from Akwa Ibom to Cross River, two states that share a common boundary, has recently increased by 50 percent due to high-risk security concern occasioned by the activities of Niger-Delta militants and sea pirates.

BusinessDay investigations show that travelling from Akwa Ibom to Calabar, a journey of about two hours by road, takes less than 40 minutes by water using speed boats. It was also discovered that Calabar waters, especially from the fairway buoy, have become very porous, thereby posing security risk to passengers travelling by water.

Also, there are smaller islands located very close to fairway buoy which pirates use as hideouts, from where they surface on water to attack vessels carrying petroleum products as well as fish and passenger boats.

Speaking to our correspondent, an Ibaka-based fisherman who does want his name in print said the transportation cost has increased by above 50 percent in the last few years. Formerly, according to the source, it used to cost between N400 to N500 to cross over to Calabar from Ibaka, but now it takes about N1,200, and another N1,200 to return to Ibaka from Calabar.

The source said increase in the market price of fuel resulted in the gradual spike in the cost of water transportation in the area, but the growing activities of sea pirates have helped in doubling the cost in recent time.

Narrating the daily experience with the pirates, the source further noted that the activities of the pirates on the water resulted to forceful collection of money from the passenger boats, fish or money from fishermen, and most of the times the engine of the boat is hijacked if the boat owner does not have enough money to settle the pirates.

Indigenes of the communities in the state have therefore called on the government and other waterways security agencies to intervene in their situation by patrolling and making the coastline very secure for businesses and passengers.