By Steve Agbota
Following the successful delivery of the first set of Super Post Panamax State-of-the-art Ship to Shore (STS) Cranes and 10 Rubber Tyred Gantries (RTGs) on July 1, 2022 and the delivery of the second batch shipment critical towards the commencement of operations comprising of two (2) STS Cranes with 115 packages of accessories and five RTGs with 270 packages of accessories on August 5, 2022, the Lekki Deep Seaport is set to be completed on schedule ahead commencement of operations this year.
Speaking during his first official visit to the Lekki Deep Seaport at the weekend, the Minister of Transportation Mr. Muazu Jaji Sambo, expressed delight at the pace and quality of work at the port site.
Sambo lauded the management of the Nigerian Ports Authority for the tremendous support provided to Lekki Port in meeting the project timelines. He tasked Nigerian Railway Corporation, NPA and Lekki Port to take urgent steps towards ensuring the Deep Seaport is linked by rail.
In his remarks, Managing Director Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) Mohammed Bello -Koko said, “the very fact the letter of intent between Lekki Deep Seaport and it’s financial partners was signed in April 2019 and by 2022 we are close to operationalization; this project symbolizes the possibilities that tenacity of purpose can actualize”. He added that NPA remains unwavering in providing every support and facilitation necessary to ensure that the timelines for take off are met.”
Also speaking, Managing Director Lekki Deep Seaport, Mr. Du Ruogang, while making a presentation to the Minister and his entourage disclosed that the construction works for phase 1 was nearing completion at about 96 per cent complete. He said the Lekki Port team together with the Lekki Freeport Terminal (LFT) are working hard to ensure that construction is completed in September 2022 and thereafter port operations will start before the end of this year 2022.
Highlighting the game-changing features, Ruogang stated that the port upon completion will have three (3) container berths, three (3) liquid berths and a storage yard with over 15,000 ground slots terminal designed to support a throughput of 2.7 million TEUs annually, a Dry Bulk Terminal with available quay length of about 300m among other distinctive attributes.