In a bid to leverage the competitive advantages of Lekki Deep Seaport in attaining regional maritime hub status, the Managing Director Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Mr Mohammed Bello Koko on Wednesday accompanied the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Mr Adegboyega Oyetola, on a tour of the facility which apart from being Nigeria’s first Deep Seaport is also the country’s first fully automated port.
Speaking during the visit, Bello-Koko told the Minister that the Lekki Deep SeaPort’s distinctive features such as full Automation, Drive-through Scanners, Super Post-Panamax size Ship-to-Shore Cranes among others, have positioned it for quick cargo and vessel turn around which will greatly enhance the competitiveness of our exports especially agro-allied products in the international marketplace.
“With enhanced competitiveness comes increased demand which ultimately grows forex inflow into the country.
“The NPA is glad to announce that Lekki is already processing transhippment cargo for which two of our landlocked neighbors have expressed interest and with our renewed partnership with the Nigerian Customs towards the domestication of the World Custom Organization’s guidelines on transhippment and other ease of doing business best practices, the numbers can only increase,” the NPA boss said.
Persecondnews recalls that the NPA had recently procured and deployed two first-of-its-kind in Africa Azimuth Stern Drive (ASD) 80 Ton Bollard Pull Tugboats to equip Lekki Port to provide best-in-class marine services.
The Minister, however, expressed delight at the world-class facilities on ground at the Lekki Port and pledged the Ministry’s commitment towards ensuring that the opportunities for national prosperity inherent in Lekki Deep Seaport are maximally utilized.
The visit to Lekki Port which is the second within a week by the new Minister of Marine and Blue Economy to NPA platforms, coming on the heels of the tour of Lagos and TinCan Island Port Complexes signposts the importance of the Nigerian Ports Authority in actualizing President Ahmed Bola Tinubu’s vision for national prosperity.
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