‘Lekki Seaport: Vessels to be 4 times bigger than those berthing at TinCan, Apapa’
Whereas no government official spoke on any plan to avoid a repeat of Apapa gridlock caused by port activities, President Muhammadu Buhari Monday, flagged off commercial activities at the brand new Lekki Deep Seaport, developed in a tripartite arrangement involving the Federal Government, State and the private sector.
However, speaking at the event, Lagos State Governor, Sanwo-Olu noted that the size of vessels that would be coming to the Lekki Port could be up to four times the size of vessels that currently berth at both Tin Can and Apapa Ports.
He said, “The $1.5bn project is a total combination of efforts of the Federal Government, Lagos State, and the private sector and we are happy that this is happening in your time.
“It all started within your time and it has been completed within your time. The size of vessels that will be coming here could be up to four times the size of vessels that currently berth at both Tin Can and Apapa Ports, so it is a massive infrastructure and we are indeed excited that something fresh has been impacted into this country.
Sanwo-Olu added that “It is going to generate thousands and thousands of jobs directly and hundreds of thousands of jobs indirectly in the entire ecosystem and this is your own project and we are excited.”
Checks by Business Hilights revealed that already, the first vessel (CMA-CGM) had berthed and contents are being off-loaded while the commissioning ceremony was ongoing on Monday, January 23, 2023.
In his address, the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Mohammad Bello-Koko, averred that, some neighbouring countries are already expressing interest to bring their cargoes through the Lekki deep seaport.
“It is a dream come true. It will help in bringing in more cargoes, and employment, it will become a model for other deep seaports in Nigeria.
“Already, NPA has started acquiring equipment that will make for easy cargo evacuation,” Bello-Koko added.
Also speaking, the Director-General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Bashir Jamoh, said, “I am one of the happiest persons here, because today, we are seeing the emergence of one of the best ports not only in Nigeria but in Africa generally. Maritime industry is one of the sectors, apart from oil and gas that pursues the development of the Nigerian economy.
“Today, we are seeing the realisation of one of the best ports in West Africa expected to inject not less than $360bn and also provide employment of not than 190,000 Nigerians.
The Executive Secretary, Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC), Emmanuel Jime, said, the project represented a dynamic change, as far as the Nigerian maritime industry was concerned.
