Lekki Port COO urges govt agencies to develop long-term multimodal cargo evacuation strategy
By Seun Ibiyemi
Chief Operating Officer of Lekki Port, Laurence Smith, has called on government agencies operating in Nigerian ports to develop a long-term strategy for multimodal cargo evacuation.
Speaking at a Maritime Conference in Lagos, Smith emphasised the importance of the maritime sector to Nigeria’s economy, highlighting its potential to drive growth, create employment, and connect the country to the global market.
He stressed the need for a comprehensive approach to cargo evacuation, leveraging various modes of transportation to enhance efficiency and competitiveness.
The conference is set to collaboration and innovation in the industry, and Smith’s call to action is expected to resonate with stakeholders and inspire proactive measures.
He stated that the delivery of Lekki Port by its promoters, Tolaram and China Harbour Engineering Company, exemplifies what can be achieved with strategic investment in modern infrastructure.
“Due to the enhanced capacity of Lekki Port, it was able to receive the CMA-CGM SCANDOLA, the largest vessel to berth in Nigerian waters,” Mr. Smith stated.
While applauding the NPA for investing hundreds of dollars to upgrade its facilities, he urged all other government agencies located in all the ports to devise a long-term strategy for multimodal evacuation of cargo.
He also noted that with the right investments in infrastructure, security, and regulatory reforms, the maritime sector holds the potential to become a powerhouse of economic growth and development for the country.
Laurence Smith was supported by Yang Xixiong, the Operations Director of Lekki Port who was a panelist on the panel session titled “Overcoming Trade Barriers and Unlocking Economic Growth.”
The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Alhaji Adegboyega Oyetola who was the Special Guest of Honour at the conference, assured the participants that the Federal Government is committed to improving the ease of doing business in the maritime sector.
Oyetola explained further that the Ministry is making efforts to ensure efficient trade processing at the ports towards enhanced ease of doing business ranking and revenue generation.
Also speaking at the event, the Managing Director/CEO of the Nigerian Ports Authority, Mohammed Bello-Koko announced that the Authority and the Nigeria Customs Service will now collaborate to actualise 24-hour port operations and ensure cargo owners take delivery of their consignments without delays. He noted that this will now consequently reduce non-tariff trade barriers.
