The management of the Lekki Port Lagos Free Trade Zone Enterprise has announced the commencement of work on the construction of the N325bn Lekki seaport situated in Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos State.
The total value of the marine and land infrastructure for the L port was given as N156bn.
The contractors for the project, the EPC Contractors and China Harbour Engineering LFTZ Enterprise, received an advance payment of N1.42bn from the Lagos State Government at a ceremony held in Lekki on Saturday.
The event was attended by the Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority, Alhaji Sanusi Bayero; Head, Corporate Finance, Standard Chartered Bank, West Africa, Mr. Leke Ogunlewe; Lagos State Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Mrs. Olusola Oworu; Senior Vice-President/Chief Executive Officer, Africa Region, International Container Terminal Services Incorporated, Jens Floe; and Managing Director, CHELE, Mr. Wang Zhichao, among others.
The Managing Director, Lekki Port, Mr. Haresh Aswani, said, “We are honoured to be part of this promise. We thank the Federal Government of Nigeria and its agency, the NPA, and the Lagos State Government for their support as we look forward to this partnership.
“We congratulate the EPC Contractors, CHELE and our terminal container operator, the ICTSI, on achieving this significant milestone that pushes the project from a development phase into a full construction phase.”
Aswani urged the incoming government to work with private enterprises to build the needed infrastructure in the country.
He added that the Lekki port was a model that could be replicated by providing long term policies that would attract similar investments.
Bayero described the notice-to-proceed on construction issued to the contractors as a quantum leap and expressed the resolve of the NPA to tap into the huge market provided.
He said, “As a port authority, we see potential for growth and strive to make it a reality at all times. A port with a depth of 16.5 metres will allow bigger vessels to berth.
“This will enable our ports to be enormously competitive due to economy of scale and it will have positive macroeconomic impact on Nigeria in terms of employment, taxes and royalties. As we begin the consummation of our strategic alliance with the promoters of this project, the NPA will not waver in its continued support.”
Oworu urged the promoters of the project to ensure its development at a rapid pace so that the port could become operational within the set timeframe.
No comments:
Post a Comment