LEKKI DEEP SEA PORT: You Must Keep To Our Agreement – Amaechi
Oru Leonard
The Minister of transportation, Rotimi Amaechi has cautioned the management of the Lekki Deep Sea Port Project to keep to the agreement on the completion date of the project.
The Minister said this in reaction to the operations briefing presented to him by the Lekki Deep Port contractors who proposed that the project will be delivered in the last quarter of 2022. However, he rejected the proposal and directed contractors to complete the project by second quarter 2022 as previously agreed.
The minister while expressing satisfaction with the progress made so far, urged the contractor to employ more hands to work night and day if necessary to meet the deadline.
“I am very delighted and impressed with the pace and the progress of construction work on this project from the last time I was here in November 2020. The promoter of the project-Lekki Port LFTZ Enterprise Limited has demonstrated strong commitment and capacity to deliver the project as agreed”, he said.
While briefing the Minister and his entourage on the status of construction of the Port, the Chairman, Lekki Port LFTZ Enterprise Limited, Mr Abiodun Dabiri disclosed that the entire port construction is now at 55.48% completion.
Dabiri noted that dredging and reclamation has reached 61,11%, Quay Wall 50.39%, Breakwater 67.49% while the landside infrastructure development has reached 33.70% completion. He assured the Minister and the stakeholders that the project is on course and going according to schedule. He declared that at the end of third quarter (Q3) 2022 would complete the construction work while commercial operations will commence by fourth quarter (Q4) 2022 as planned.
“We understand the significance of this project to the Nigerian economy and we would not fail to play our part to ensure that it is delivered as and when due”, he said. He expressed hope that the rail line would be extended to the free trade zone to facilitate economic activities.
The Chairman expressed appreciation to the Minister and his team for providing the necessary support that has enabled the company to deliver on the mandate for the project.
He stressed further that upon completion, Lekki Port would be a world-class Port operating with best in class equipment to ensure seamless operations and would comply with global environmental protection standard. He added that Lekki Port as the deepest seaport in the sub-Saharan African region and would serve as transhipment hub for the region.
Also speaking during the visit, the Acting Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority, Mr Mohammed Bello-Koko assured that the Nigerian Port Authority is ready to play its part to ensure smooth take off of port operations upon completion of construction. He disclosed that NPA has commenced the process of acquiring all necessary marine equipment including tug boats and mooring boats.
The minister was there in the company of the permanent secretary ministry of transportation, Dr Magdalene Ajani and other government agencies including the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), the Nigeria Shippers Council (NSC) and the Nigerian Maritime Administrative and Safety Agency (NIMASA).
