By Nneka Nwogwugwu
Lagos State Government has received a loan of $629 million from China Development Bank to finance the ongoing Lekki Deep Sea Port Enterprise Limited, LPLEL, billion-dollar project.
Commissioner for Commerce, Industry, and Cooperatives, Dr. Lola Akande, said this on Monday, at the year 2021 ministerial press briefing to commemorate the second year in office of Governor, Bababjide Sanwo-Olu, held in Alausa, Ikeja.
According to Akande, the loan secured from China Development Bank, CBD, is to support, facilitate the construction, development of the gigantic project and early operation in year 2022 targeted period.
“Current completion percentage as at February 2021 stood at 47 per cent, trial operations of the port is slated for third quarter of year 2022 while commercial operations is slated for first quarter of year 2023,” she stated.
Akande explained that the project has provided job opportunities to 611 local workforce, which in life: 32 local skilled workforce, 513 local semi-skilled and 66 local un-skillled labour.
Also speaking on the state of the ongoing construction of Dangote refinery and Petrochemical Industry in LFTZ, she said the project which has generated over 1,000 local employees, is expected to commence operation by end of the second quarter of 2021.
