The Lekki Free Trade Zone Enterprise (LPLE) has issued ‘Notice To Proceed’ to the China Harbour Engineering Enterprise (CHELE), to commence full construction activities for the Lekki Deep Sea Port situated within Lagos Free Trade Zone of Lagos State.
Speaking at the Notice to Proceed ceremony on Saturday, Managing Director of Lekki Port, Mr. Haresh Aswani said that the milestone project marks the beginning of the 41 months construction, adding that it is the largest maritime project in the country.
The Lekki Free Trade Zone Enterprise (LPLE) has issued ‘Notice To Proceed’ to the China Harbour Engineering Enterprise (CHELE), to commence full construction activities for the Lekki Deep Sea Port situated within Lagos Free Trade Zone of Lagos State.
Speaking at the Notice to Proceed ceremony on Saturday, Managing Director of Lekki Port, Mr. Haresh Aswani said that the milestone project marks the beginning of the 41 months construction, adding that it is the largest maritime project in the country.
Aswani disclosed that the total contract value for construction of all marine and land side infrastructure for the port is estimated at US$ 792 by releasing an advance payment to CHELE for full construction of the project.
He said that the total cost of this phase will be US$ 1.65 billion, adding that it is the deepest in the sub Sahara African region.
"Scheduled to be operational in 2019, Lekki port will be the deepest sea port in the Sub Saharan Africa with a draft depth of 16. 5 meters"
"Once ready, the port facility, with its state of the art infrastructure, would be able to handle post Panamax container vessels of up to 10,000 TEUs capacity"
"The port will commence its operations with annual throughput capacity of 1.5 million TEU and shall quickly ramp it up to 2.7million TEUs and in addition, when completed, Lekki Port will be equipped to handle around 16.7 million MT liquid cargoes and 4.0 million MT dry cargoes annually".
He added that as part of efforts to solve the long standing congestion problem at existing ports in the state, the new port will create an enabling environment to spur massive investment along the free trade zone corridor and will have a direct positive impact on the overall economy.
Aswani said "this is going to be a game changer and we are honoured to be part of this promise".
He further lauded all parties involved in the project, noting that "on the significant milestone achievement that pushes the project from development phase into full construction phase".
On his part, Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Alhaji Sanusi Lamido Ado Bayero said that as a maritime agency in charge of the ports, "we see potentials for growth in the Nigerian market and strive to realise it all the time".
He said the new port will bring about competition among our terminal and port operators.
"This port with a design depth of 16.5meters will allow bigger vessels to berth and the port will enable our ports to be competitive due to economy of scale”.
Managing Director CHELE, Mr. Wang Zhichao said the new port will make Nigeria the hub in West Africa, adding that it is a project with high economy benefit.
"We are so pleased to be part to be the EPC contractor of this new initiative at Lekki".
He stressed that "this will make Nigeria a hub port in West Africa and the envy of nations".
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