The Minister of Transportation, Mu’azu Sambo has said that the Lekki Deep Seaport project would create 112,000 jobs to Nigerians upon its completion.
The Minister stated this on Sunday in the Taraba State Capital, Jalingo, while addressing journalists.
According to him, the port is second in Nigeria after Onne Deep-Sea port and would bring more tonnage and revenue to the port and the country.
He further said that the project would impact positively on the nation’s economy.
The minister said, “The Lekki Deep Sea Port project is the second after Onne Deep Sea Port in Nigeria. It is significant because the largest ships in the world can berth at the Port. That means, more tonnage, more cargo, more revenue for the port and for the country, more economic activities; and above all, more jobs like I said. Over 112, 000 both direct and indirect jobs will be created as a result of the creation of the Lekki Deep Sea Port.
“This will be in the first few years and as time goes on and as activities expand, the number of the jobs will even multiply and that is what is good for us. For as more jobs we have, the more our ability to put food on the table of many Nigerians.”
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Nigerian Minister for Information, Lai Mohammed had said in May last year that with Lekki Port scheduled to commence commercial operation in the last quarter of the year, it would make it possible for Nigeria to regain the maritime business that was lost to ports in Togo, Cote d’Ivoire and Ghana.
“It is also a big boost to Nigeria in its quest to take advantage of the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA).
“A major advantage we have to leverage is transshipment. With this port, Nigeria would become a transshipment hub and the revenue we are currently losing to our neighbouring countries will come here.”
When the port begins operation in the last quarter of this year, its promoters said it will make it possible for Nigeria to regain the maritime business that was lost to ports in Togo, Cote d’Ivoire and Ghana. It is also a big boost to Nigeria in its quest to take advantage of the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA).
“A major advantage we have to leverage is transhipment. With this port, Nigeria will become a transhipment hub and the revenue we are currently losing to our neighbouring countries will come here. That’s big! “
Phase one of the project, it was learnt, has reached an 89 per cent completion rate, assuring that it will hit the 100 per cent mark in September this year.
He further spoke on the various aspects of the project this way: “The facilities here are first class. We have seven ships to shore cranes and 21 RTG cranes. No port in Nigeria currency has this. The excellent equipment is why this port can do 18,000 teu, which is more than four times the number that can currently be handled by our other ports.
The project is self-sufficient in required electricity. It is also ready to generate up to 10 Mega Watts and the total capacity is 16 megawatts.