The management of the Nigeria Ports Authority ( NPA) yesterday, successfully berthed the first and biggest vessel at the Lekki Deep Sea Port in Lagos, as part of its efforts to place Nigeria on the global list of countries with Deep Seaports and attain the regional maritime hub status.
The vessel, which arrived at the Lekki Port at 1.29 pm. was fully berthed by the Nigeria Ports Authority(NPA) in preparation for the commencement of operations later in the year.
Managing Director of NPA, Mohammed Bello-Koko, who was at the reception of the vessel with other senior officials of the agency, expressed happiness for the safe arrival of the vessel laden with three Super Post Panamax state-of-the-art Ship to Shore (STS) Cranes and 10 Rubber Tyred Gantries (RTG).
The vessel named ZHEN HUA 28 owned by Shanghai Zhenhua Port Machinery in Hong Kong is expected to complement the expected commencement of port operations at the Lekki Deep seaport to boost the economy and generate employment..
Bello-Koko said the arrival of the vessel with modern port equipment was a milestone for the country to become the regional maritime hub.
He expressed appreciation to President Muhammadu Buhari, the Federal and Lagos State Government, the Tolaram Group, the China Habour, and other promoters of the port for supporting the Lekki Deep Sea Port in making the arrival of the vessel possible.
He said: “The successful delivery today at the Lekki Deep Seaport of three Super Post Panamax state-of-the-art Ship to Shore (STS) Cranes and 10 Rubber Tyred Gantries (RTG) is a testament to the unflinching commitment of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) to providing the support necessary for placing Nigeria on the global list of countries with Deep Seaports.
”The successful delivery of this very important equipment which is critical for the Lekki Deep Seaport to commence operations before the end of the year 2022, is a demonstration of our readiness to take trade facilitation a notch higher.
“This has been made possible by the tremendous backing of His Excellency President Muhammadu Buhari and the Federal Ministry of Transportation who have over the time played a key role from the initial construction stage and also granted fast-tracked approval for this historic exercise.”
He said further that “for us, at the Nigerian Ports Authority the coming on stream of Lekki symbolizes a lot of positives. Apart from being Nigeria’s first Deep Seaport, Lekki Port will also be the first fully automated port at take-off. This provides an insight into the path we are already toeing as a management team to govern the operationalization of not just the forthcoming Badagry, Ibom, and Bonny Deep Seaports, but also of the reconstruction of the aged Tin-Can Port, where work is set to commence once we secure the necessary approvals from the Federal Ministry of Transportation and FEC respectively”.
In his remark, the Board Chairman, Lekki Port LFTZ Enterprise Limited (LPLEL), Mr. Biodun Dabiri gave kudos to Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and all the past and present Governors of Lagos state for supporting the Lekki Deep Seaport project. (The Nation)