The $1.5billion Lekki Deep Seaport project has been completed and handed over to promoters, Tolarams Group by China Harbour Engineering LFTZ Enterprise (CHELE).
The construction of the port, which started on June 15, 2020 was completed on October 24, 2022, the contractor, CHELE, said.
Speaking at the completion ceremony in Lagos State Southwest Nigeria on Monday, the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu promised to expand the roads leading to the port to six lanes with a view to ensuring a seamless evacuation of cargo from the port.
Governor Sanwo-Olu also said that with a projected 1.2million 20 Equipment Unit, (TEUs), the port would make Nigeria an essential maritime business hub in the entire West African region.
He called on communities within the port axis to give all the necessary support as it sets out to generate over 200,000 jobs within communities around the port area.
Governor Sanwo-Olu further stated that, “We will stop at nothing to complete the roads leading to the port, all the shanties along the road will be cleared to give way for the expansion of the roads.
“With the port completed and a projected 1.2million TEUs, Lagos has become a maritime hub.”
Indispensable Maritime Hub
Similarly, the Chairman of the Board of Ports, Lagos State, Mr. Abiodun Dabiri said that the government was poised to deliver on its promise to make Nigeria an indispensable maritime hub in West Africa.
Dabiri maintained that the Board was pleased to celebrate the completion of construction of the port and the effective handover of the facilities by Lekki Port from the Contractor, China Harbour Engineering LFTZ Enterprise (CHELE), a subsidiary of China Harbour Engineering Company.
“It has been a long journey of many steps. Starting from the time when Tolaram led by Pa Mohan Aswani sought to develop a deep sea port for the benefit of the Lagos Free Zone, and indeed all of Lagos State and Nigeria; to getting a concession from the Nigerian Ports Authority for a unique private public partnership port; getting a loan facility from China Development Bank to the infusion of equity capital in the sum of US$221m by China Harbour Engineering Company to the start of construction in the midst of an unprecedented global pandemic. It has indeed been a journey.”
Delivering a goodwill message on behalf of Tolaram Group, the Managing Director of Lagos Free Trade Zone, Mr. Dinesh Rathi, expressed delight at the timely completion of the construction of the port.
He said the port would further position the Lagos Free Zone as the next frontier for investment in Nigeria and increase foreign direct investment to Lagos State and Nigeria at large.
