Buhari Directs Minister to Submit Memo to Link Lekki Deep Seaport with Rail
PMB
Lekki Seaport to begin test-run September – NPA MD
*Residents near seaport may be affected in expansion plan – Amaechi hints
*Says Dangote Fertiliser Plant will boost food production in Nigeria
By Our Reporter
President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday gave indication of his administration’s readiness to link the Lekki Deep Seaport with rail line.
To this effect, Buhari during an inspection of the seaport directed the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi to do a memo to the Federal Executive Council (FEC) to link the seaport with rail.
The President during the visit was taken round the 65Km facility sited in Lagos.
Amaechi who spoke before the tour began said the visit was imperative as it would lead to the early completion of the project.
He told newsmen, “The reason for asking Mr President to come to Lekki port is to publicise the seaport so that people will know this government is building a seaport and the first deep seaport in Nigeria. The other ports in Nigeria are all river ports.
“The next reason for the President coming here is to put the heat on them (contractor) so that the project will be completed on time. You know that the port is almost ready, if not for the equipment. They can actually get this place ready before June, but they said the equipment is arriving by June and installation will take them till September and then it can be commissioned in September.
“You see the miracle of bringing the president here. That is why it is important for a president to inspect projects because that will hasten the process of completion if there is money.”
The Minister also gave an indication of plans to expand the seaport, a development that will affect some of the residents in the community.
He said, “We said we should expand and acquire more lands. There are about 5, 000 inhabitants along the side water there and we said preparations should be made to either relocate them or find a solution, but I think relocation would be the best because if you do your environmental service, the implication is that you don’t just dislodge people from their natural environment even though the law gives you the power to own the land. You must take into consideration those who live around the area.
“I want to have a conversation with the Lagos State Governor on what will happen because we need to acquire all that land, which is about 1, 000 hectares.”
The Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Mohammed Bello-Koko disclosed during the event that the test-run of the seaport would begin in September before the commercial visit.
Koko Bello said, “The port is located on about 90 hectares of land, and is supposed to have three container terminals and will be the first automated port in Nigeria that will enable the speedy clearing of goods.
“The commencement of Lekki Port will reduce the rate of traffic at Apapa and Tin-Can Island Ports as there will be Ship-to-Shore (STS) cranes that will enable faster processing of goods.”
President Buhari also said the Dangote fertiliser plant would boost Nigeria’s food production.
Buhari who spoke while on an inspection of the plant in Lekki said the country will also benefit from foreign exchange earning from the fertilizer plant.
He said that already the company has started exporting fertilizer to USA Brazil, and India.
He added that the factory would drastically create wealth, reduce poverty, and secure the future of our nation.
Buhari also commended the Central Bank of Nigeria, the Development Finance Institutions, and the local and foreign commercial banks for supporting the Dangote Fertilizer plant.
*Residents near seaport may be affected in expansion plan – Amaechi hints
*Says Dangote Fertiliser Plant will boost food production in Nigeria
By Our Reporter
President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday gave indication of his administration’s readiness to link the Lekki Deep Seaport with rail line.
To this effect, Buhari during an inspection of the seaport directed the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi to do a memo to the Federal Executive Council (FEC) to link the seaport with rail.
The President during the visit was taken round the 65Km facility sited in Lagos.
Amaechi who spoke before the tour began said the visit was imperative as it would lead to the early completion of the project.
He told newsmen, “The reason for asking Mr President to come to Lekki port is to publicise the seaport so that people will know this government is building a seaport and the first deep seaport in Nigeria. The other ports in Nigeria are all river ports.
“The next reason for the President coming here is to put the heat on them (contractor) so that the project will be completed on time. You know that the port is almost ready, if not for the equipment. They can actually get this place ready before June, but they said the equipment is arriving by June and installation will take them till September and then it can be commissioned in September.
“You see the miracle of bringing the president here. That is why it is important for a president to inspect projects because that will hasten the process of completion if there is money.”
The Minister also gave an indication of plans to expand the seaport, a development that will affect some of the residents in the community.
He said, “We said we should expand and acquire more lands. There are about 5, 000 inhabitants along the side water there and we said preparations should be made to either relocate them or find a solution, but I think relocation would be the best because if you do your environmental service, the implication is that you don’t just dislodge people from their natural environment even though the law gives you the power to own the land. You must take into consideration those who live around the area.
“I want to have a conversation with the Lagos State Governor on what will happen because we need to acquire all that land, which is about 1, 000 hectares.”
The Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Mohammed Bello-Koko disclosed during the event that the test-run of the seaport would begin in September before the commercial visit.
Koko Bello said, “The port is located on about 90 hectares of land, and is supposed to have three container terminals and will be the first automated port in Nigeria that will enable the speedy clearing of goods.
“The commencement of Lekki Port will reduce the rate of traffic at Apapa and Tin-Can Island Ports as there will be Ship-to-Shore (STS) cranes that will enable faster processing of goods.”
President Buhari also said the Dangote fertiliser plant would boost Nigeria’s food production.
Buhari who spoke while on an inspection of the plant in Lekki said the country will also benefit from foreign exchange earning from the fertilizer plant.
He said that already the company has started exporting fertilizer to USA Brazil, and India.
He added that the factory would drastically create wealth, reduce poverty, and secure the future of our nation.
Buhari also commended the Central Bank of Nigeria, the Development Finance Institutions, and the local and foreign commercial banks for supporting the Dangote Fertilizer plant.
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