There are strong indications that construction works at the Lekki Deepsea Port will start soon as President Goodluck Jonathan is expected to carry out the ground-breaking ceremony any moment from now.
Minister of Transport, Sen. Idris Umar gave this assurance in Abuja yesterday at the inauguration of the new board chairmen for two key parastatals under the ministry; the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA)
There are strong indications that construction works at the Lekki Deepsea Port will start soon as President Goodluck Jonathan is expected to carry out the ground-breaking ceremony any moment from now.
Minister of Transport, Sen. Idris Umar gave this assurance in Abuja yesterday at the inauguration of the new board chairmen for two key parastatals under the ministry; the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA)
The Minister also assured that concerted efforts are being made to bring into fruition the Ibaka Deepsea Port in Akwa Ibom State as well as the Badagry Deep seaports.
He lamented that presently, the ports in the country are over stretched.
"Any moment from now, we expect that Mr. President will carry out the ground-breaking for the development of the Lekki deepsea port while in the case of Ibaka port, a development committee has since been constituted with membership from federal ministry of transport, NPA, Akwa Ibom government…", he stressed.
The minister pointed out that the ports were constructed with a total capacity of 16million metric tonnes per year, but that it is currently being forced to handle 100million MT per anum.
"This is why we are partnering with the private sector to develop the Lekki Deepsea port" he said.
The minister also took time to reel out the achievements in the maritime sector for year 2012. According to him, the ministry as succeeded in reducing the number of agencies in the port from 14 to only seven.
He commended NPA in the area of wrecks removal and the NIMASA in the area of maritime security.
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