By Uzor Odigbo
Managing Director Victory Energy Resources Limited, Otumba Sola Olatunji has said that when the Olokola Deep Seaport comes on stream in Ondo State over one million jobs would be created.
Olatunji during a chat in Lagos, said the project would be a major catalyst to the economy because of the direct and indirect jobs it would create that would be in excess of one million.
He said it would earn the country over $9 billion annually.
It will be recalled that the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) recently cancelled the proposed Badagry Deep Seaport over discrepancies in the consultant report, but those in the know said a major issue is the gridlock in Lagos which citing of the deep seaport at Lekki and Badagry will definitely compound.
According to Olatunji, another selling point for the Olokola Deep Seaport, apart from its taking away the Lagos gridlock, is its over nine meters natural draught.
He said: “Deep Seaport business is all about logistics. I just mentioned to you that out of about 20 vessels that come to West Africa daily, 17 come to Nigeria.
“If this port is realized, all those vessels will come here (Olokola) for their maintenance, bunker and groceries. Do you know the implication? Do you know how much that will be accruable to Nigeria daily from that? Do you know what only Chandelling activities to these vessels will do to this economy? We are talking of transactions that are all done in foreign exchange.”
He further said that the Olokola River has the longest coast and deepest draught in Nigeria hence will be able to take bigger vessels that cannot berth in Lagos and other River Ports in Nigeria.
He maintained that many ancillary services attached to the shipping will help to generate more jobs for the people as well as attract investors into the country.
“So, you will now see new businesses thriving, new markets emerging because sailors will come out from the ships to go and buy things.
“Boat operators, ancillary service providers will come and investor will put money in the business,” he stressed.
He suggested that the proposed sea port be run on a Private and Public Partnership (PPP) model.