President Buhari tours Lekki deep seaport

President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday toured the Lekki deep seaport in the Lekki area of Lagos State. The tour which lasted about 15 minutes had notable dignitaries in the delegation of Mr President.

Among the dignitaries that accompanied Mr President during the tour were the former Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu amongst others.

The President who left immediately after the tour had earlier commissioned the Dangote Fertilizer plant located near the Lekki deep seaport.

Speaking before the tour, the Honourable Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi explained that it was important that President Buhari tours the project to aid the timely completion of the project.

According to the Honourable Minister of Transportation, “The reason for asking Mr President to come to Lekki port is to publicise the seaport so that people will know this Government is building a seaport and the first deep seaport in Nigeria. The other ports in Nigeria are all river ports. “The next reason for the President coming here is to put the heat on them (contractor) so that the project will be completed on time. You know that the port is almost ready, if not for the equipment. They can actually get this place ready before June, but they said the equipment is arriving by June and installation will take them till September and then it can be commissioned in September.

“You see the miracle of bringing the President here. That is why it is important for a President to inspect projects because that will hasten the process of completion if there is money.”

On the connection of Lekki port to rail, the Minister of Transportation explained that there are no funds for such projects as of now.

“We don’t have money. If you give us money, we will build a railway here. As the Minister of transportation, I don’t do roads.

“Building of roads is the responsibility of the Federal Ministry of Works and we will convey the fears of the owners of the port and the community to him. You need huge money for the road project and also the rail.”

On expansion plans of the Lekki deep seaport, Amaechi hinted that plans are underway to relocate some communities to pave the way for the expansion of the deep seaport.

“We said we should expand and acquire more lands. There are about 5, 000 inhabitants along the side water there and we said preparations should be made to either relocate them or find a solution, but I think relocation would be the best because if you do your environmental service, the implication is that you don’t just dislodge people from their natural environment even though the law gives you the power to own the land. You must take into consideration those who live around the area.

“I want to have a conversation with the Lagos State Governor on what will happen because we need to acquire all that land, which is about 1, 000 hectares.”

Also speaking during the Presidential inspection of the Lekki port, Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Mohammed Bello-Koko explained that the Lekki Deep Seaport, which has been under construction for years, would be ready for a test run in September this year after which the first commercial visit can be received at the port.

In his words, “The port is located on about 90 hectares of land, and is supposed to have three container terminals and will be the first automated port in Nigeria that will enable the speedy clearing of goods.

“The commencement of Lekki Port will reduce the rate of traffic at Apapa and Tin-Can Island Ports as there will be Ship-to-Shore (STS) cranes that will enable faster processing of goods.

“Some of the businesses we have lost to other neighbouring West African countries due to drought limitation will be regained. There will be employment creation and increased revenue for the government. It will create competition and compel other terminal operators to up their games to reduce cargo dwell time at their terminals.

“Apapa and Tin-Can Island Ports have been operating far beyond their capacity which means that the excess cargoes that have been going there would be diverted to Lekki Port.”

Also speaking, the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC), Emmanuel Jime explained that the Lekki port will change the face of maritime in Nigeria.

“From the point of view of an economic regulator, it has been something we have been looking forward to. We have dreamt that this day would come for a number of very important reasons. We have to understand that because of the draft that we are going to have here at this Lekki seaport and for the first time in our maritime domain, we are going to have the kind of vessels that have never birthed in our ports.

“So this is the first deep seaport we are having in our country. From that perspective alone, that gives us the comfort and recognition that as far as the economies of scale are concerned, we are going to have a boost in commercial activities in ways that we have never envisaged and experienced before.

“We at the Shippers council are indeed very happy to see this port happening. Because of the automation that this port will provide, businesses will be conducted in a way and manner that is efficient and service delivery will be done in a way that it will be cost-effective.”

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