The Managing Director/CEO of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Mr Mohammed Koko, said on Friday that automation remains the most veritable tool for ensuring port efficiency.
To this end, NPA is working assiduously under the technical guidance of the International Maritime Organization to deploy the Port Community System.
Koko spoke at the reception of the first vessel berthing at Lekki Deep Seaport in Lagos.
He said: “The successful delivery today of these three (3) state-of-the art Ship to Shore (STS) Cranes and ten (10) Rubber Tyred Gantries (RTG) very important equipment which are critical to the commencement of operations of the Lekki Deep Seaport is historic as it moves us a step closer to birthing Nigeria’s first Deep Seaport and also demonstrates our readiness to take trade facilitation a notch higher.
“In this first phase, the port has a natural depth of 16.5 metres, Quay Length of 680 metres, Breakwater of 1.909 metres, two Container Berths and Marine Services Jetty to handle containers as well as liquid and dry bulk, Lekki Deep Seaport is indeed equipped to improve Nigeria’s fortunes as far as maritime trade is concerned.
“The commitment of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) to providing every support necessary to place Nigeria on the global list of countries with Deep Seaports is unflinching.
“This is why matters related to the operationalization of Lekki Deep Seaport before the end of this year have been placed on top priority.”
Koko expressed appreciation to President Muhammadu Buhari and the Federal Ministry of Transportation for the tremendous backing the NPA has enjoyed leading to today’s historic exercise.
The NPA boss also thanked stakeholders in the maritime industry on the milestone and expressed optimism about greater strides as the country push the envelope of trade facilitation.
“For us at the Nigerian Ports Authority the coming on stream of Lekki Deep Sea Port 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.
“The NPA is working assiduously under the technical guidance of the International Maritime Organization to deploy the Port Community System (PCS), which will enable us respond squarely to the dictates of global trade facilitation and optimize the opportunities of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Agreement to which Nigeria is signatory.
“Our strategic intent of becoming the maritime logistics hub for sustainable ports services in Africa rests heavily on how well we are able deepen our efficiencies through a construction of deep seaports in order to leverage the concomitant benefits of economies of scale.
Watch: First ship docks at Lekki Deep Sea Port
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