While also speaking at the event, the Lagos State governor; Mr. Babajide Sanwo Olu who applauded the project said the port will position the state as new logistic hub not only in West Africa, but in the whole of Central African and West African region while positioning Nigeria to attend the full leadership position of African Continental Free Trade Agreement Area (AfFCFTA).
The governor added that the benefits of the project can only be left better imagined, even as he stated that the port will provide about 200,000 direct and indirect jobs for both for the citizens.
“We have gathered here today for the completion of the construction of one of the deep seaports you can see anywhere in the world. Once again, Lagos state has happily demonstrated why it is called Nigeria pace setter state and the commercial nerve center of our country.
“This project is one other cardinal point of our belief for a greater Lagos. As we all know, Apapa and TinCan ports are already Nigeria’s biggest ports now we have a world class state of the art, fully automated Lekki Deep Seaport,yet we are not resting. We know that when we have a port facility there are other complementary things that are supposed to happen.
“I am sure that you are all aware that we just received approval to also build the Lekki airport not far off from here. These are massive investments that will also complement the LFTZ.
“We are delighted that China Harbor Engineering Company Limited made the momentous decision to be part of the massive economic transformation taking place here, thank you for investing.
“I remember three years ago; precisely in 2019, when we signed that we want to have this and in less than three years we have this. And I think it is also proper that I thank the Federal Government, especially the FMOT and the Nigerian Ports Authority for their regulatory oversight and for providing a friendly business environment and for providing support that facilitate this project that we are handing over today.
“Like I said, the benefit of this project is to benefit our citizens, and the benefits can only be better imagined. Providing jobs to close to 200,000 jobs for both direct and indirect jobs in the next couple of months and years ahead in addition to adding tens of billions in dollar revenue to our country, state and host community.
“This port will position the state as the new maritime logistics hub not only in West Africa, but in the whole Central African and West African region while positioning Nigeria to attend the full leadership position of AFCFTA.
“I want to use this opportunity to assure our private players on this project and commitment that Lagos state government is bringing in ensuring that all our promises and ensuring that this location is not going to be a gridlock.
“You have seen that the construction of the road from Eleko junction has continued towards Ajah and I have also seen that the construction from Eleko junction towards here is also ongoing. I want to reassure you that we will stop at nothing to push this road to completion. I am going to give the contractors a marching order to ensure that the road construction that will evacuate all the containers here does not constitute gridlock.
“And I am also going to discuss with the host community all of the shanties that we need to clear along the right of way.
“I also want the citizens to know that they are turning this place into a six lane highway and so there are shanties along the road. Let them push them away and clear the road. And to all our many other investors that are intending to invest in the LFTZ, I want to make it clear that you can count on us to ensure that the ease of doing business is not a lip service thing, it is something that we are committed to doing” he said.
Speaking also at the event, Mr. Wu Di, Vice President of CHEC who is also a director of Lekki Port, disclosed that the construction of the Port was officially started on June 15, 2020, and was completed on Monday, October 24, 2022.
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He added that the completion of the construction will now pave the way for the container terminal operator, the Lekki Free Port Terminal (a subsidiary of CMA/CGM group), to take over the Port in readiness for the start of port operations.
Delivering the goodwill message on behalf of Tolaram (promoter and shareholder), the Managing Director of Lagos Free Zone, Mr. Dinesh Rathi, expressed delight at the timely completion of the construction of the port. He noted that the port would further position LFZ as the next frontier for investment in Nigeria and increase foreign direct investment to Lagos State and Nigeria.
The Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Ambassador Cui Jianchun commended CHEC for displaying excellence in their project skills and promoting China’s commitment to Africa’s infrastructure development drive.
He noted that the project was a good example of what can be achieved when Nigeria and China cooperate.
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