Nigeria’s first deep seaport project, the Lekki Deep Sea Port, promoted by Lekki Port LFTZ Enterprise Limited, (LPLEL), will upon completion have an aggregate economic impact of $361 billion over its 45-year concession, creating no fewer than 169,972 jobs and generating revenue for both state and Federal government agencies through taxes, royalties and duties.
During a tour of the facility, LPLEL Managing Director, Mr. Du Ruogang, said construction of the project had reached 51 per cent completion.
He added that some major milestones such as completion of Eastern breakwater had been achieved.
He reaffirmed the commitment of the company to meet next year’s target date set for the completion of the project, assuring that hands were on deck to deliver the first deep seaport in Nigeria, even as one of the shareholders in the project, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), had commenced work to initiate marine services at the site.
He expressed confidence that the seaport would change the narrative of the maritime sector and, consequently, impact Nigeria’s economic development.
While explaining some of the features of the deep seaport, which has been described as the first in Nigeria upon completion, the Chief Technical Officer, LPLEL, Steven Heukelom, noted that five-ship-to-shore cranes and 15 rubber tyre gantry cranes were being put in place to ensure ease in cargo evacuation, thus enhancing operation at the port.
Heukelom said the port, which is being constructed on 90-hectare land and through the Build, Own, Operate and Transfer (BOOT) arrangement would comprise three container, three liquid and one dry bulk berth.
The CTO further noted that 55.75 percent of the dredging and reclamation had been done while construction of the Quay Wall had reached 43.14 per cent.
He stated that the landside infrastructure made up of administrative buildings, sewage treatment plant, container yards, among others, for the project, were ongoing with completion reaching 27.18 per cent.
He added that the project had provided employment for 1,200 Nigerians with 50 of them from the host community.
– The Nation