By Uzor Odigbo
Managing Director of Lekki Deep Sea Port, Mr Du Ruogang has reiterated his company’s commitment to achieving completion of ongoing construction at the port site by September 14, 2022.
Addressing newsmen on a tour of facilities at the port site, Ruogang said ahead of its 15 months target period to deliver Nigeria’s first private sector driven deep seaport, Nigerian Ports Authority has commenced initial marine services on site.
According to Ruogang, five-ship to shore(STS) cranes and fifteen rubber-tyred gantry cranes (RTGs) are being put in place for ease of cargo handling and seamless operations when fully commenced.
Construction work being undertaken by China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) , according to the MD, has attained about 51 percent completion with 81 percent of the total purchases sourced locally within Nigeria.
Giving technical details on some structures to be put in place in the port, Ruogang said the 45 year concession period which provides for Build Own Operate and Transfer (BOOT), will have three container, three liquid and one dry bulk berths.
Chief Technical Officer of the port, Steven Heukelom also intimated reporters that dredging and reclamation activities including the breakwater has attained 55.75 percent completion.
He said so far, 200 Nigerian workers are engaged in the port with 50 of them from the host community.
Heukelom added that the port has made positive interventions in the host communnity through corporate social responsibility (CSR) in the areas of constructing pedestrian pathway, educational support through its Tolaram Science Challenge and donations of food and items that promote hygiene.
Equity of thehe Lekki Deep Sea Port which is 75 percent held by Lekki Port Investment Holdings also has the Lagos State Government as 20 percent shareholder while Nigerian Ports Authority has 5 percent shares.
The facility, upon completion and full operation is expected to provide 169,972 jobs and address part of the port needs of Nigera and neighbouring West African countries with a hub of maritime and ancillary logistics services to be sited within the area.
Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo Olu had commended the ongoing construction and pace of work at the port site when he visited in March,2021
Sanwo-Olu noted that the promoters of the project, China Habour Engineering Company (CHEC) and Tolaram have demonstrated a very high sense of commitment and capability especially by keeping to the construction schedule and timelines
“We are really excited about the level of work done as we have seen here. What we have seen is actually encouraging. This project is going to transform the way we do commerce. With the completion of the project, turnaround time will be faster; the movement of goods will be cheaper, we can see businesses booming and ease of doing business will be improved,” the Governor said