…Model for other states***
There is no doubt that the recently commissioned lekki deep seaport will serve as a timely intervention for the decongestion of the Lagos ports and further reposition Nigeria, as a hub in West and Central Africa.
The deep seaport will not only enhance public revenue earnings in port activities and charges, but will help to reduce congestion in the port and as well promote the production and earning scales in the real sector, the formal sector and the organised private sector
According to report, no fewer than two million containers laden with various cargoes worth over N5 trillion are currently stranded at the Lagos port complex, due to the inability of importers to evacuate them.
Investigation revealed that many of the cargoes are now incurring demurrage after enjoying three rent-free days from the day of discharge.
This situation, according to experts, portends grave danger for the Nigerian economy, as it will trigger inflation and further discourage importers from choosing Nigeria as the port of destination.
However with the recently commissioned lekki deep seaport, it is expected that the deep seaport will tackle some of these challenges and aid the following:
Prospect of the Lekki Deep Sea Port
Located in the Lagos Free Trade Zone, the port has deepwater berths with a 670- metre turning circle and a harbour basin 14 metres deep, the Lekki Deep Seaport is expected to:
Increase Ports and Terminals Handling Capacity
The deep seaport is expected to impact positively on the overall cargo handling capacity of Nigerian ports and thereby increase Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Maritime transportation is one of the key sectors of the economy. Yet, it is a fact that this lucrative sector has not been fully harnessed in preference to the oil sector.
The handling capacity of ports in Nigeria is put at 60 million metric tonnes, while demand and usage is about 100 million metric tonnes, and they are expected to rise with the increasing population, urban expansion and attendant demand for more markets.
The cargo throughput handled in the ports in 2010 increased from 66,908,322 metric tonnes in 2009 to 74,910,282 metric tones in 2010, indicating a 12 per cent increase. Thus, Nigeria needs better designed port facilities in tune with increased cargo traffic, for the global competition
The emphasis is shifting to larger more economical vessels that require deeper harbour drafts. Global logistics trends have made the need for deep seaports more imperative.
The last two decades have witnessed a major shift in the exploration and production focus of IOCs, with deep offshore frontiers becoming more attractive and widespread.
The deep seaport also has the potential to transform into the first major transshipment hub in the region, servicing the regional sea routes and the hinterland
Increase GDP
An estimated $2.23billion is expected to be injected into the economy in terms of construction and fixed assets, with the completion of the Lekki Deep Sea Port.
This amount is expected to rise to an aggregate of $3.61 billion over a 45-year concession period in the Nigerian economy.
Ease pressure on Apapa and Tin Can port
The Lekki Deep Sea Port with all the facilities will ease the pressure on Apapa and Tin Can ports. It is expected that 170,000 direct and indirect jobs will be created as a result of the project.
Aside all these, it is expected that the deep seaport will have the first-mover advantage in providing deepwater facilities to support large container volumes, liquids and dry bulk cargo
•☆Downstream procession facilities contributing to the need for liquid bulk facilities.
With all of these it is expected that other states governors who clamored for deep seaports will key into this great feat and ensure speedy construction of works in the deep seaport.
Ondo and Ogun States have been championing the joint development of the Olokola deep seaport for about a decade.
Akwa Ibom State joined the fray about eight years ago under its erstwhile governor, Godswill Akpabio with the proposed Ibom deep seaport, while Ben Ayade of Cross River State, shortly after assuming the governorship of his state in 2015, became a strong advocate of the Calabar deep seaport.
However one wonders if these states governor have done their homework on the viability or otherwise of their proposed deep seaports.
But with the recently commissioned lekki deep sea port which is a bid to take off by year 2020, it is expected that other states governors emulates this, to foster development and increase the nations GDP.
Oluyinka Onigbinde
