On Monday, President Muhammadu Buhari formally opened the Lekki Deep Sea Port in Itoke Village, Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos. He did so while seeing cargo being unloaded from the CMA CGM Mozart at the quay.
This was said in a statement released on Monday by Femi Adesina, Special Adviser to the President (Media & Publicity), according to PULSENETS.
The Lagos State Government, the Tolarams Group (owner of the Lagos Free Zone), China Harbour Engineering Company, and the Federal Government of Nigeria through the Nigerian Ports Authority are partners on this project, which would cost more than $1.5 billion to complete.
The President also opened the Bestaf Lubricant at MRS Holdings Company Limited and the Imota Rice Mill in Lagos, which was designed and built by Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
The 200 million litre lubricant facility is the first of its type in West Africa and encompasses the whole value chain of lubricants.
The President will officially open the John Randle Centre for Yoruba Culture and History at Onikan Roundabout and the historic first phase of the Blue Line of the Lagos Rail Mass Transit on Tuesday.
In order to witness the overloading from the container ship flying the flag of Malta, the President invited the Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the Minister of Transportation, Muazu Sambo, the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Ciu Jianchun, as well as other top government officials and traditional leaders.
The Lagos Governor addressed the crowd and stated, ”Mr President, we are happy this is happening in your time. It all started in your time and it’s been completed in your time.
”We are excited that the size of the vessels that will berth at the port would be four times the size of vessels that currently berth at Apapa and Tin Can Island Port.
”We are excited that in your own time, something fresh has been birthed in this country and it is going to generate thousands of direct and indirect jobs.”
The Federal Ministry of Transportation’s demands regarding Lekki Deep Seaport were swiftly resolved by the President, the Federal Minister of Transportation remarked, which allowed for the project’s commissioning.
”The very fact that the letter of intent between the proponents of Lekki Deep Seaport and its financial partners was signed as recently as April 2019 and by January 2023 the wide-ranging impact project is already being commissioned is a testament to the tenacity of purpose of the Federal Ministry of Transportation through the Nigerian Ports Authority.”
He praised the President for quickly approving Wharf, the Ministry’s unusual proposal to designate Lekki Deep Seaport as a Customs Port, and for granting the Ministry’s exceptional request to designate Lekki Deep Seaport as a Customs Port.
”With Seaports being under the exclusive legislative list, the Nigerian Ports Authority’s provision of a sinking fund for Lekki Deep Seaport Federal Government’s equity contribution gave this project the necessary statutory cover and financial guarantee in line with the law.
”Completing a project of the magnitude and impact of a deep seaport in a record time of 45 months shows the effectiveness of tenacious ministerial supervision, strict regulatory oversight and strong presidential backing.”
Over 170,000 jobs will be generated once operations get underway, according to Sambo, who called the project one of the key legacies of this government.
The historic gateway project, which was created in collaboration by five partners from four nations, was cited as an appropriate example of a sound business model by the Chinese ambassador to Nigeria in his goodwill message.
”This project is a joint venture between China, Nigeria and Singapore, and is run by a French company. The model of ‘five parties from four countries’ is a way of taking advantage of the wisdom and strength of all parties.”
He promised that China will support this commercial strategy in order to achieve a win-win situation, particularly for Nigeria’s growth, development, and advancement.
The Ambassador compared the initiative to the first three letters of the terms “engine of the economy,” “equity of investment,” and “example of model business.”
Jianchun highlighted that the Port is the top deep sea port in West Africa and one of the most advanced and effective ports in sub-Saharan Africa on Engine of Economy.
”It is estimated that the overall economic benefits will reach more than 360 billion USD, becoming a new engine of economic development that will empower the southwest region and the whole country.”
The port was cited by the ambassador as a useful example of how Chinese businesses might transition from being EPC contractors to key investors in the development of large-scale infrastructure projects in Nigeria.
”The government doesn’t need to worry about the existence of guarantees or debt risks. It also shows that the investment climate in Nigeria can be trusted. We have every reason to be confident in Nigeria’s future development.”
Prof. Adesoji Adesugba, the managing director of the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA), recalled that when the construction of the port was flagged off by the president in June 2020, very few Nigerians thought it would actually happen, especially given the difficulties of COVID 19, which were wreaking havoc on the nation and the rest of the world at the time.
”Therefore, we should all be proud as Nigerians that this has not only become a reality, but a Free Zone has built and completed the largest sea port within four years which will reposition Nigeria as a regional hub globally for maritime business.”
He promised that NEPZA will keep providing the institutional assistance necessary for this project and all other initiatives being planned in the free zones to Lagos Free Zone and, in fact, all free zones licenced under it.
”We are ready to lead in partnering with agencies at National and Sub-National levels, and the private sector to provide the needed support for this investment to thrive.
”Particularly, we will partner with the Nigeria Custom Service to perform its role effectively in order to achieve the objective of making this project stand as a testament to the legacy of President Muhammadu Buhari.
”We must not allow the momentum generated by the commissioning today to wane. All hands must be on deck to sustain this reality, ” the head of Nigeria’s free zone regulatory authority said.
