The Chief Operating Officer of Lekki Port LFTZ Enterprise Limited, Laurence Smith, has said that the Liquid Berth Terminals have potential operators.
The port will start operating commercially in the first quarter of 2023, according to Smith, who made this announcement to the media recently in Lagos during the company’s end-of-year press briefing.
“Lekki Port has already opened up discussions with potential operators of the liquid berth terminals, which is critical to the commencement of the construction of Phase 2 of the port,” he declared.
Smith stated that following the completion of the installations, the trial operations would begin.
“Full commercial operation will commence at the end of the first quarter of 2023, while the terminal operator, Lekki Free Port Terminal, will be carrying out trial operations once they complete the installation of all necessary port equipment and infrastructure.”
Also speaking, the Managing- Director of Lekki Port LFTZ Enterprise Limited, Mr Du Ruogang, has appealed for more support in the area of infrastructure to boost cargo evacuation.
He said that all necessary arrangements were being put in place for the official port commissioning by the president, Major General Muhammad Buhari (Rtd).
“While Lagos State government commenced work on the construction of access roads leading to the port, there was an appeal for more support in the area of infrastructural development to ensure easy cargo movement out of the port,” he averred.
Ruogang appreciated the Ministry of Transportation, Nigerian Port Authority, Nigerian Shippers Council and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency for their contribution to making the port a reality.
He said; “While Lagos State government commenced work on the construction of access roads leading to the port, there was an appeal for more support in the area of infrastructural development to ensure easy cargo movement out of the port.”
He noted that the terminal operator, Lekki Free Port Terminal, was putting everything in place to give a world-class port experience adding that all the relevant agencies have been sensitised to undertake their roles in the new port.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Chief Operating Officer of Lekki Port, Mr Daniel Odibe, said that the Lagos State government has commenced work on the construction of access roads leading to the port.
Odibe said the management of Lekki Port has obtained Federal Government’s approval for the railway coming from the port to be connected to the proposed eastern coastal rail line through Ijebu-Ode.
He further stated that the port was perfecting plans to bring in two automated scanners to fast-track cargo examination at the port.
He said the scanners are expected to arrive in Nigeria by February 2023.
Additionally, Mr. Du Ruogang, the managing director of Lekki Port LFTZ Enterprise Limited, called for increased infrastructure support to speed up cargo evacuation.
He stated that all preparations were being made for the President, Major General Muhammad Buhari (ret.d), to officially commission the port.
The Nigerian Port Authority, Nigerian Shippers Council, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, as well as the Ministry of Transportation, were all recognized by Ruogang for their assistance in making the port a reality.
He mentioned that the Lekki Free Port Terminal, which operates the terminal, was putting everything in place to provide a top-notch port experience, and that all key authorities had been made aware of their responsibilities in the new port.
According to Mr. Daniel Odibe, the deputy chief operating officer of Lekki Port, the Lagos State government has started building the access roads leading to the port.
The administration of Lekki Port, according to Odibe, has secured consent from the Federal Government for the railway that enters the port to be connected to the proposed eastern coastal rail line through Ijebu-Ode.
He added that the port was finalizing its plans to introduce two automatic scanners to speed up cargo examination at the port.
By February 2023, he stated, the scanners should arrive in Nigeria.
To assure simple freight transportation out of the port, Odibe, however, pleaded for greater support in the area of infrastructure development.
