Nigeria is the giant of Africa and is known for its vast resources, particularly in crude oil production. The country is well-positioned as a maritime nation, given its location on the Gulf of Guinea. The Nigerian government has put in significant efforts to develop the country's maritime industry and increase its capacity. One of the ways they have achieved this is by initiating the construction of new seaports in the country. In this article, we will look at the two seaports that are currently under construction in Nigeria.
1. Lekki Deep Seaport
The Lekki Deep Seaport is located in the Lekki Free Trade Zone in Lagos State. The port is expected to have a depth of 16.5 meters, which will allow it to accommodate large vessels. It is also designed to have four container terminals, with the capacity to handle 2.5 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) annually. In addition, it will have a roll-on-roll-off terminal, a liquid bulk terminal, and a dry bulk terminal.
The construction of the Lekki Deep Seaport is expected to cost $1.5 billion, and it is being developed as a public-private partnership between the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the Tolaram Group, a Singaporean conglomerate. The port is expected to commence operations in the first quarter of 2023 and is projected to create over 170,000 jobs.
The establishment of the Lekki Deep Seaport is expected to decongest the Apapa Port, which is currently the main port in Lagos State. The congestion at the Apapa Port has been a major issue, leading to delays in clearing goods and increasing the cost of doing business in Nigeria. The Lekki Deep Seaport is expected to address this issue and attract more investors to the country.
2. Ibom Deep Seaport
The Ibom Deep Seaport is located in Akwa Ibom State and is being developed as a public-private partnership between the Nigerian government and China Harbour Engineering Company Limited. The port is expected to have a depth of 16.5 meters and will have two container terminals, a multi-purpose terminal, and a liquid bulk terminal. It is projected to have a capacity of 4.8 million TEUs annually.
The construction of the Ibom Deep Seaport is expected to cost $2.016 billion and will include the construction of a 2.7-kilometer access road and a 7-kilometer channel. The project is expected to create over 300,000 jobs and attract more investment to Akwa Ibom State.
The Ibom Deep Seaport is strategically located and will serve as a trans-shipment hub for West and Central Africa. It will also help to decongest the Lagos ports and serve as an alternative gateway for goods entering Nigeria.
The construction of the Lekki Deep Seaport and Ibom Deep Seaport marks a significant milestone in the development of Nigeria's maritime industry. These ports are expected to increase the country's capacity to handle cargo and attract more investment to the country. The government must ensure that these projects are completed within the stipulated time and up to the required standards to achieve the desired impact. The establishment of these seaports provides a great opportunity for Nigeria to position itself as a regional maritime hub and enhance its economic growth and development.
Content created and supplied by: GroundShaker (via Opera News )
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