Senator Sani Ahmed (Chairman Senate Committee Marine Transport)
Indeed, the on-going deep seaports projects is a welcome development because it will give room for bigger vessels to call at the new ports and also improve revenue collection for the government. Over the years, shallow waters have not been able to allow bigger ships to call at our ports and I think with the coming up of the Lekki and Badagry ports will boost government revenue drive and issue surrounding job employment will thrive in the process.
Captain Adamu Biu (stakeholder)
It must be noted that the talk of deep seaports around Badagry, Lekki and Akwa Ibom are indeed very welcome. However, it would perhaps be prudent to try to get only one off the ground for now, especially with the present economic recession. Even the private participation is obtainable for all three proposed deep seaports because they are likely to meet development patterns of their time if properly placed.
Paul Ogbokri (Maritime Journalist)
Creation of more deep seaports will give room for competition, among the respective investors and it will bring about efficiency and create job opportunities for Nigerians. Currently, our existing ports cannot handle bigger vessels, but the establishment of deep seaport would create an avenue for bigger vessels to call at our ports and also reduce the cost of doing business at the ports, considering the high volume of containers or cargoes the ships will be bringing into the country. I totally support the moves by the government and private sector to establish more deep sea ports in our country.
Alhaji Abdullahi Inuwa (NARTO)
I am in total support of more deep seaports in the country, because it will bring about massive development in port operations. It will reduce influx of people coming to a particular port, it will increase employment opportunities in all the existing states or locations and above all bigger vessels will be able to berth in those new ports because as it is we don't have bigger vessels calling at our existing ports. Since it is going to PPP I think efficiency will be the watchword.
Dr. Babatunde Samuel (POTEMAN)
The world is moving towards latest technology and smaller vessels are fizzling away. The world today is talking about deep seaports and our existing ports have outlived the essence of their establishment and it is important to note that it’s not that our existing ports will not be utilised, but the world is going technological and we can use the existing ports as feeder ports for exports, not that they will be totally rejected.
Dr. Zebulon ikokide (President NIFFCB)
Yes we can establish more deep sea ports like the one being proposed for Akwa Ibom. Deep sea ports are especially for very large vessels to come to berth at the quay apron. Deep sea ports give investors more confidence to invest in VLCC vessels for the carriage of crude oil. In Nigeria, I can't remember anyone who owns a VLCC but with availability of a Deep Sea Port both local and foreign investors would like to veer into that area of trade.
Julius Efokpor (SecGen Merchant Navy)
The existing seaports are under-utilised, even the concessioned dry ports are not functional, then people are still clamouring for deep seaports everywhere. In my candid view, I believe it’s a waste of money on the part of government, thus there is need to put in place policies to make the under-utilised ports to be functional.
Dr. Boniface Aniebonam (Founder NAGAFF)
The name alone deep seaports have to do with traffic, because there are vessels that could not call at our existing ports like Apapa and Tin Can Island. Deep seaports have a draft that can accommodate mega vessels with higher level of draft which automatically will make Nigeria a trans shipment nation in terms of freight rate. Such projects will create mega employment for Nigerians during and after construction. The seaports will also serve as a hub for African countries. If the existing ports are being under-utilised, then they look at the reason why such ports are under -utilise; considering the level of cargo throughput, thus the establishment of more deep seaports and the existing ports been under-utilised are two difference ball game entirely that need no controversies
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