The Federal Gov¬ernment, in part¬nership with some private investors, is perfecting ar¬rangement to build seven new deep seaports infra¬structure across the country.
These seaport facilities, the government said, would serve as ultimate solution to the current problem of port congestion as the cargo handling infrastructure in the existing seaports have been stretched beyond their designed capacities.
Speaking in Lagos on Monday at the opening cere¬mony of the annual Nigerian Maritime Expo (NIMAREX) 2014, Idris Umar, minister of transport, said that the seven new seaports are to be built with the combined efforts of the Nigerian Ports Author¬ity (NPA), state governments and the private investors under the public-private partnership initiative.
Apart from addressing the issue of port congestion, the minister, who repre¬sented President Goodluck Jonathan at the event, stated that the seven new seaports would also help to achieve economy of scale in shipping business by allowing large vessels to visit the port, and would also help to create employment for the youths.
According to him, the Fed¬eral Executive Council (FEC) has granted its approval for the development of the proposed Lekki Deep Seaport while ef¬forts are in progress to hold the groundbreaking ceremony for the commencement of the construction works on the port site in Lagos.
“On Ibaka seaport, the Steering and Project Deliv¬ery Committee that was constituted last year has submitted its draft report and the transaction adviser has also produced the initial due diligence report as well as the outline business case for the port”, he disclosed.
Listing the other five ports, the minister said that discus¬sion is ongoing between the Federal Ministry of Transport, NPA, Lagos State govern¬ment and private investors to develop a deep seaport in Badagry area of Lagos.
“Efforts are also being made to initiate similar ar¬rangements with the Ogun and Ondo state governments and some other investors to develop the Olokola deep seaport. In addition, the con¬tract for the establishment of a port at Ogidigbe near Escravos as part of the Gas Industrial Park with Free Zone Status is awaiting the approval of FEC. The port is expected to become the hub for gas revolution initiative of the Federal Government”, the minister added.
He further said that the Federal Ministry of Trans¬port, NPA and Bayelsa State government are collaborating to develop Agge deep seaport in the state. He added that the state government has commissioned a reputable consultant, who has con¬cluded extensive studies for the development of the port.
The Federal Govern¬ment, he noted, is commit¬ted to reforming the trans¬port sector in order to bring the sector at par with other international players, thus, encouraging the private sector to participate fully in the development of the transport sector while the government creates the ena¬bling environment.
Hassan Bello, executive secretary, Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), said the devel¬opment of Greenfield seaport in Nigerian maritime sector help the importers to achieve economy of scale through having larger ships with big¬ger draft to call the ports. Bello, who believes that Nigerian maritime sector has a lot of potentialities, added that the sector would also benefit largely from the regional mar¬ket if the construction of new port facilities are achieved..
