From Anthony Nwachukwu, Lagos
Ahead of the commissioning of the Lekki Deep Seaport later this year and its commencement of operations, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and Lekki Port/Lekki Free Trade Zone (LFTZ), promoters of the project, are constructing a 300-truck capacity parking area to avoid indiscriminate parking on the port access road.
Also, the Nigeria Customs building at the terminal area will have a full-fledged examination bay for proper inspection before trucks are allowed in the area, which is also a dedicated area for impounded goods, according to a statement from the NPA General Manager, Corporate & Strategic Communications, Ibrahim Nasiru.
This is just as the Chief Operating Officer of Lekki Port/Lekki Free Trade Zone (LFTZ), Laurence Smith, has appealed for increased government support in the construction of access roads to the port location, as well as linking the port to the national railway grid.
He acknowledged the synergy from the NPA management, led by the Ag Managing Director, Mohammed Bello-Koko, especially in the procurement of Vessel Tracking System (VTS) for the Lekki channel, two 80-ton bollard-pull ASG tugboats and two pilot boats for Lekki Deep Seaport.
This followed the recent inspection of the port project by the Minister of Transportation, Mr. Chibuike Amaechi, accompanied by Bello-Koko and others.
Meanwhile, the promoters explained that construction was ongoing on reefer connections to handle perishable commodities, and erection of light masts which will be 25m high, so that the whole area is fully lit 24 hours daily.
According to them, total completed works on the project is approximately 80 per cent, with dredging and reclamation works now 89.93 per cent completed, quay wall 85.65 per cent completed, breakwater 79.66 per cent completed, and land-side infrastructure 6.82 per cent completed.
Amaechi had during the visit described the level of construction work as very impressive, even as he commended the Bello-Koko led NPA management for availing the contractors the necessary support.
Desiring that the project’s commissioning and commencement of cargo operations be achieved earlier than scheduled, he told the contractors: “The last time we came, there was no quay wall, just the breakwaters, but today there are many visible improvements.
“It doesn’t mean that you have delivered, it simply means you will achieve it. The last time we came, your chairman said it wasn’t possible and I told him, wait and see. If it’s not possible, then know that I am not minister of transport.
“We are supposed to commission by September, which is in the old agreement, but if you double your efforts on this job, we can commission (it) by July.”
