Lekki Port at 95% completion; to create 70K jobs, generate $201b
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Lekki Deep Seaport, the deepest of its kind in West Africa, which Abuja anticipates will fetch $201 billion revenue and create 70,000 jobs, is at 95.65 per cent completion and firing on all cylinders to launch in December.
The port is planned to yield $201 billion to federal and state governments in taxes, royalties, and duties as well as an aggregate impact of $361 billion in 45 years, Information Minister Lai Mohammed enthused when he toured the project in May.
The project was at 80 per cent completion stage in January and will be fully automated at take-off in December, the management just reiterated on Twitter.
“We are delighted to announce that the construction of Lekki Port is now at 95.65% completion,” the statement said.
“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!’’
__________________________________________________________________
Related articles:
Lekki Port to yield $360b for GDP from September
Badagry Port to generate $2.6b, create 5,000 jobs
Shippers’ Council saves N6.5b demurrage charges
__________________________________________________________________
Customs port, approved wharf
President Muhammadu Buhari last week approved the designation of Lekki Deep Seaport as a customs port and approved wharf.
Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) Managing Director Mohammed Bello-Koko has also written to the Transportation Ministry for approval for the port to be gazetted, via reporting by Nairametrics.
Bellow-Koko said with the approval and level of preparedness, Lekki Port is set for berthing commercial vessels before the end of the year.
The port, designed to be a game-changer in Nigeria’s maritime economy, is being constructed by China Habour Engineering with a $2 billion investment in the Lagos Free Trade Zone by Tolaram Group based in Singapore.