By Hauwa Ali
Nigeria’s first deep sea port, the Lekki seep sea port is set to commence operations after completion and official handover by China Harbor Engineering Company Ltd (CHEC).
The Chinese company handed over the deep sea port on Monday to the government, after completion of the huge maritime project in the country’s economic hub city of Lagos.
Receiving the Port, the Lagos state government expressed optimism that the port will bring new development opportunities and create jobs in the state.
“This new port will position Lagos as a new maritime logistics hub not only in West Africa, but in the whole Central and West African region,” said the Governor of Lagos State Babajide Sanwo-Olu at the ceremony.
“The newly completed project will create nearly 200,000 direct and indirect jobs in Nigeria in the coming years, unlock the country’s economic potential, and boost the country’s revenue.
“We, therefore, reassure everyone that we will stop at nothing to put the roads into completion as fast as possible to avoid any gridlock.
“We are urging the host community to remove all shanties on the road as the road will be turned into a six-way highway,” he said.
Also, Mr Biodun Dabiri, the Chairman, Lekki Port Board of Directors, noted that the project was a poster child for how effective global cooperation and collaboration could bridge the infrastructural gap in Nigeria.
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Dabiri appreciated the Government of China which enabled China Harbour Engineering Company, China Development Bank to invest in Lekki Port, and President Muhammadu Buhari for providing an enabling environment for the nvestment to flourish.
“We are pleased to celebrate the completion of construction of the port and the effective handover of the facilities by Lekki Port from the EPC Contractor, China Harbour Engineering LFTZ Enterprise, a subsidiary of China Harbour Engineering Company.
Cui Jianchun, the Chinese ambassador to Nigeria also expressed optimism that the port will meet the needs of Nigeria’s economic development.
Constructed by the CHEC, the Lekki Deep Sea Port is the largest seaport in Nigeria, and one of the biggest in West Africa. The construction of the port commenced in June 2020, and is designed to handle 1.2 million standard containers annually.
With the construction of Lekki port, Lagos’ Lekki area has become a hot place for investment, Deputy General Manager of the CHEC Wu Di said, adding that the port will soon be put into commercial operation and is full of development prospects.
“I believe this largest deep sea port in West Africa will bring new development opportunities to Nigeria,” he said.
As a commercial project of tripartite cooperation between China, France and Nigeria, Lekki port is of great significance for promoting the Belt and Road cooperation in Africa.
