shippingposition
  • Home
  • News
  • Editorial
    • Vox Pop
  • Maritime safety
  • Oil and Gas
  • Personality
  • Health
No Result
View All Result
shippingposition

Home » Here’s Welcoming Lekki Deep Seaport

Here’s Welcoming Lekki Deep Seaport

by Joshua
January 30, 2023
in Editorial

The major ports in Nigeria have always been: Lagos Port Complex and Tin Can Island Port Complex both in Lagos State, the Calabar Port Complex in Cross River State, the Delta Ports in Warri, Delta State and the Rivers Port Complex and the Onne Port Complex, both in Rivers State.

Before the idea of the Lekki Deep Seaport, which has now officially opened for business, Apapa port had always enjoyed the glory of being the biggest port in Nigeria.

But the expansive and more modern Lekki Deep Seaport has taken that glory. This is going by the facility it promises to offer, and the size of the port.

Lekki is the first deep sea port in Nigeria. It is expected to become a major cargo hub for West Africa. In addition to being the country’s first fully automated port and it is largest, it represents the first expansion of the country’s ports in 25 years and is part of an ambitious plan of development for the region.

Located approximately 40 kilometers to the east of Lagos, the port covers over 90 hectares. The project was built by the China Harbor Engineering Company as part of China’s Belt and Road strategy. The Chinese company officially handed the port over to Nigeria after completing construction but retains part ownership in the port’s operating company.

Coming after so much efforts about the quest for hub status in West Africa, the final ‘berthing’ of Lekki port is a boost for Nigeria.

We recall that, as far back as the 1990s, West African countries have been racing against one another   to emerge as the shipping hub. At a time, it was between Nigeria and Cote d’Ivoire. Along the line, Cotonou port in Benin became the transshipment point for some cargoes destined for Nigeria.

No doubt, Lekki is one of Africa’s top six ports, and its owners expect that its modernity and efficiency will make Nigeria a regional hub. It is also Nigeria’s largest and first fully-automated port. It has more than doubled the capacity of Lagos’ ports, which had remained the same for about 25 years.

The new port is expected to accommodate the world’s largest cargo ships, this is in addition to reducing cargo dwell time from over 30 days to two days.

Yes, the story of Lekki port is inspiring; yet, a combination of factors will determine its success. These include its capacity to meet the demands of shipping; its efficiency and competitiveness in the national and international contexts; the coordination of policies; the way transport modes work together; the state of the inland economies; and the application of technology.

Perhaps, the greatest challenge the port is going to have may be evacuation of cargoes. So far, it is very obvious that its promoters paid little attention to the challenge logistics in their planning.

For now, there is no provision for rail connection to the expansive port. In addition to this huge deficit, we dare add that the road infrastructure is inadequate for the anticipated volume of traffic.

We agree with those who have expressed fears about the sanctity of the economic projections which informed the vehicle company and the public-private sector partnership (PPP) which berthed the port.

The three known investors are: China Harbour Engineering Company Ltd, Singapore’s Tolaram Group and the Nigerian government (specifically, the Nigerian Ports Authority and the Lagos state government.

The above school of thought feels that the PPP arrangement has the potential drawback of idle capacity, if the economic prospects that motivated birth of the port fail to materialise. Then the huge investment in the deep sea port project would become a huge burden of unpaid debts.

Aside from the numerous boost to the Nigerian economy, perhaps, the greatest fear currently being expressed is that of the impending traffic gridlock that the Lekki port will foist on all those who either live in that axis or have to drive through or even work there.

A foretaste of what is to happen was given sometime in 2022, by a body known as the Nigeria Economic Zones Association, which expressed concern over the increased movement of oil tankers in the Lekki axis of Lagos State. This was after an oil and gas firm commenced operations there and the looming chaos became apparent.

According to the association, the Free Trade Zone where the Lekki port and other high networth businesses are coming up, has no truck and tanker parks. To the best of our knowledge, the Lekki Deep Seaport does not have a truck transit park yet, even though we are told that a truck park is being constructed.

According to the Nigeria Economic Zones Association, “this situation, if not tackled early enough, will render the whole axis not conducive for businesses, and this will negatively affect the country’s drive for economic development through the Free Trade Zone scheme.”

Just as stated above, there is yet no rail link; which means that, all cargoes will be evacuated by road. Our worry about traffic in and around Lekki once the port becomes operational is informed by what is presently happening in Apapa on account of the trucks that come to either load cargoes or to drop empty containers for export.

Another major challenge ahead of the imminent take-off of the port, is the access road. The long stretch of road leading to the port is far from being completed.

So we ask: How smooth will Lekki port operations be, when the road leading to the facility is far from being completed, and there is no truck park.

shippingposition

Kindly like us on Facebook/twitter


Related Posts

Sambo, Bello Koko, Jamoh, Hassan Bello, Others Set for MARAN At 34 Anniversary

A Word For The Minister Of Transportation; Mu’azu Jaji Sambo

March 14, 2023
International Cargo Tracking Note Again!   

International Cargo Tracking Note Again!   

March 10, 2023
ANLCA Gladiators Should Please Give The CRFFN Peace Overture A Chance

ANLCA Gladiators Should Please Give The CRFFN Peace Overture A Chance

February 27, 2023
Our Fears Over The Maritime Industry Bills At The National Assembly

Our Fears Over The Maritime Industry Bills At The National Assembly

February 20, 2023

Latest News

Nigeria’s Maritime Territory Expansion Bid Will Be Achieved Without War, Litigation – Buhari

Buhari Saves $500m Yearly By Reducing Ships Waiting Time From 45 To 3 Days- Organisation

March 29, 2023

NIMASA, MWUN Pledge Commitment To Maritime Labour

Oil Theft: Investigative Panel Submits Report To NSA

Afreximbank Grants  $350,000 Fund For Nigeria To Develop Inland Waterways

Magistrate’s Absence Stalls Arraignment Of 2 Top OGFZA Officials For Alleged Forgery

Customs Seizes Fake Drugs, Vegetable Oil, Machetes At Onne Port, Rivers

Pirates Take Over Liberia-Flagged Oil Tanker In Gulf Of Guinea

Nigeria’s Unsold Crude Glut: What’s Behind It?

Chair Reps Committee On Customs Joins Kogi Governorship Race, Picks ADC Forms

Bangladesh Receives $22.48 Million In Compensation For Ship Hit By Missile In Ukraine

ITF Launches Inspection Barrage Targeting Substandard Shipping in Med

ONE Orders 10 Ammonia/Methanol-Ready Boxships Continuing Expansion

kindly like our Facebook page

Health

REAL LIFE EXPERIENCE:  Making Progress Despite Sickle Cell: My Story
Health

REAL LIFE EXPERIENCE: Making Progress Despite Sickle Cell: My Story

March 13, 2023

By Tola Dehinde I know since the beginning of the year I’ve been sharing stories of people living with sickle...

Health Benefits And Side Effects Of Bitter Kola

Health Benefits And Side Effects Of Bitter Kola

March 13, 2023
Health Benefits Of Cashew Nuts For Women

Health Benefits Of Cashew Nuts For Women

March 6, 2023
Daily Walking Could Prevent One In 10 Early Deaths —Study

Daily Walking Could Prevent One In 10 Early Deaths —Study

March 6, 2023
Be Warned: Study Links Heavy Drinking To Increased Risk Of Dementia

Be Warned: Study Links Heavy Drinking To Increased Risk Of Dementia

March 6, 2023
5 Powerful Health Benefits Of Cashew Nuts For Men And Women

5 Powerful Health Benefits Of Cashew Nuts For Men And Women

February 27, 2023
Role Of IVF, Fertility Drugs In Conception Of Twins

Role Of IVF, Fertility Drugs In Conception Of Twins

February 27, 2023
WHO Warns As Marburg, Mpox Spread Across Africa

WHO Warns As Marburg, Mpox Spread Across Africa

February 27, 2023
Take Care Of Your Heart, CMD Urges Nigerians

Take Care Of Your Heart, CMD Urges Nigerians

February 20, 2023
The Health Benefits Of Pawpaw That Will Blow Your Mind

The Health Benefits Of Pawpaw That Will Blow Your Mind

February 20, 2023

© 2021 Shippingposition

Navigate Site

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Contact us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Sitemap
  • Terms

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Coast To Coast
  • Oil and Gas
  • Maritime Education
  • The Terminals
  • Maritime safety

© 2021 Shippingposition