The successful delivery today at the Lekki Deep Seaport of three (3) Super Post Panamax state-of-the art Ship to Shore (STS) Cranes and ten (10) Rubber Tyred Gantries (RTG) is a testament to the unflinching commitment of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) to providing the support necessary for placing Nigeria on the global list of countries with Deep Seaports.
Speaking when he received marine vessel “Zhen Hua 28” the heavy lift carrier which shipped the equipment from Shanghai, the Managing Director NPA Mohammed Bello Koko said “the successful delivery of these very important equipment which are critical for the Lekki Deep Seaport to commence operations before the end of the year 2022, is a demonstration of our readiness to take trade facilitation a notch higher. This has been made possible by the tremendous backing of His Excellency President Muhammadu Buhari and the Federal Ministry of Transportation who have over the time played a key role from the initial construction stage and also granted fast tracked approval for this historic exercise”.
Speaking further Bello Koko said “for us at the Nigerian Ports Authority the coming on stream of Lekki symbolizes a lot of positives. Apart from being Nigeria’s first Deep Seaport, Lekki Port will also be the first fully automated port at take-off. This provides an insight into the path we are already toeing as a management team to govern the operationalization of not just the forthcoming Badagry, Ibom and Bonny Deep Seaports, but also of the reconstruction of the aged Tin-Can Port, where work is set to commence once we secure the necessary approvals from the Federal Ministry of Transportation and FEC respectively”.
Koko reiterated “that automation remains the most veritable tool for assuring Port efficiency, and as most of us are aware, the NPA is working assiduously under the technical guidance of the International Maritime Organization to deploy the Port Community System (PCS), which will enable us respond squarely to the dictates of global trade facilitation and optimize the opportunities of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Agreement to which Nigeria is signatory”.
In this first phase, the port has a natural depth of 16.5 meters, Quay Length of 680 meters, Breakwater of 1.909 meters, two Container Berths and Marine Services Jetty to handle containers as well as liquid and dry bulk, Lekki Deep Seaport is indeed equipped to improve Nigeria’s fortunes as far as maritime trade is concerned.
Also, President Muhammadu Buhari congratulates the Federal Ministry of Transportation, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), and all stakeholders in the maritime industry on the successful berthing of the first ship at Lekki Deep Sea port.
The vessel, ZHEN HUA 28, delivered three Ship to Shores (STS) and 10 Rubber Tyre Gantries (RTG) cranes that will help in the evacuation of cargoes from vessels to the shore.
The President recalls that his approval of four new seaports in the country, including the Lekki Deep Sea port, is hinged on growing the economy, creating massive job opportunities, foreign investment inflows and trade facilitation.
He commends the staff and management in the nation’s maritime sector who are working round the clock to make the operationalization of Lekki Deep sea port before the end of the year a reality, reassuring them of his commitment to sustain investments in these new assets.
President Buhari recognizes that the nation’s maritime and aquatic resources are critical to the livelihoods of Nigerians and Government will spare no effort in successfully harnessing the potential of the sector.
