By Seun Ibiyemi
The Lekki Deep Seaport is inching ever closer to completion as the project is now 95.65 per cent complete as the board, management, shareholders, project managers and contractors are still focused on ensuring that the construction is completed by September 2022.
The project which was at 80 per cent completion stage as of January 2022, will be the first seaport to be fully automated at take-off.
This disclosure is contained in a statement issued by the Lekki deep seaport on Monday, August 1, 2022, and can be seen on its official Twitter account.
It also stated that the wait for a deep seaport with an efficiently operated terminal is over as the seaport is expected to commence operations by the end of 2022.
The statement reads, “We are delighted to announce that the construction of Lekki Port is now at 95.65 per cent completion.
“Our management, board of Directors, Shareholders, EPC Contractors and the Project Manager remain focused on our objective to complete construction by September 2022 and start port operations by the end of the year.
“The wait to behold a deep seaport with a container terminal operated with efficiency and world-class standards in Nigeria is almost over!’’
Recall that President Muhammadu Buhari had approved the designation of Lekki Deep Seaport as a customs port and approved wharf.
The Managing Director of NPA, Mr Mohammed Bello-Koko, also had in a letter through the Federal Ministry of Transportation, secured the approval for the port to be gazetted in line with extant laws.
The authority also said that with the approval and level of preparedness, the port is set for berthing commercial vessels before year-end.
The Lekki Deep Seaport, designed to be a significant game-changer in Nigeria’s maritime economy and constructed by China Habour/ Engineering firm, is a $2 billion investment in the Lagos Free Trade zone initiated by Tolaram Group, a Singaporean company.
The deep seaport is expected to generate huge job opportunities for Lagos residents as well as boost the Federal Government’s efforts to decongest the Lagos ports in Apapa and Tin Can.
The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, had in March 2021, said that the Lekki Deep Seaport is expected to begin operations by the first quarter of 2023, as the construction firm, China Habour Engineering firm had made tremendous improvement with the project.
The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, had in May 2022, said that the project is expected to bring revenues of about $201 billion to Federal and State Governments through taxes, royalties and duties as well as an aggregate impact of $361 billion in 45 years upon the commencement of operations.