Deputy Speaker, Cross River House of Assembly, Mr Joseph Bassey, said on Tuesday that members of the assembly had expressed support for the construction of Calabar Seaport project.

Bassey made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Calabar.

He said that there was no doubt that the project would create employment for the teeming unemployed youths and attract investors to the state.

He noted that Calabar needed a seaport to open up the state’s economy to investors.

The lawmaker said that the assembly had begun the process of giving legal backing to the project and others through the Infrastructure Funding Bill.

According to Bassey, the assembly is fully behind the project and others meant to boost the economic activities in the state.

"We need the seaport as an alternative route to Calabar; we need the seaport so that Tinapa can function effectively."

He, however, expressed regret that several promises made by the Federal Government in the past to dredge the port had been unsuccessful.

Bassey commended Gov. Ben Ayade for his vision and commitment to construct the seaport through Public Private Partnership (PPP), describing it as worthwhile.

"Calabar port was one of the first ports in the country dating back to the Colonial era; unfortunately, the port had long been abandoned and this has denied the state a lot of business activities.

"The vision of the governor to construct the port should be applauded and given necessary support by everybody in the state.

"I have no doubt that the seaport, when constructed, will provide jobs for the teeming unemployed youths and open up the state as an industrial hub in Nigeria.

"It will change the status of the state from being a civil service state to an economy state,’’ Bassey said.

The deputy speaker urged investors and all citizens of the state to support the governor in actualising the dream. (NAN)