President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday inaugurated the Lekki Deep Sea Port, Nigeria’s deepest sea port situated within the Lekki Free Zone in Lagos and currently the largest in Africa.
The President arrived at the venue in an helicopter alongside the Governor of the State, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu
In a remark, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu noted that the Lekki Deep Sea Port, was a PPP project of the Federal and Lagos State governments and private investors and stressed that the actual construction work started during the administration of the President.
“We are indeed excited that the project execution started during your regime and it is now completed during your tenure, the size of the vessels that will be coming in here will be up to four times the size of vessels that currently berths at Tin can and Apapa ports, so we are excited, it is a massive infrastructure and it’s going to generate thousands and thousands of jobs directly and indirectly” he said.
Prior to the arrival of the President, the Lagos State Commissioner for Commerce, Industry and Cooperatives, Mrs Lola Akande had in a speech, pointed out that the Deep Sea Port would complement others in the Country and expressed optimism that the port would further deepen Lagos position as an investment hub in Nigeria.
The Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, Mr. Mohammed Bello-Koko said the agency had purchased the necessary equipment for monitoring and regulation at the Ports and some neighbouring Countries had indicated interest in making use of the Port.
He said “we believe that the cost of doing business at this Port will actually be cheaper, it will be more efficient and it has become a model for upcoming ports”
The Lekki Deep Sea Port is fully automated
IMOTA RICE MILL
President Buhari also inaugurated the thirty-two metric tonnes Imota Rice Mill which is expected to produce two point five million, fifty kilograms bags of rice annually.
The President was accompanied by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to unveil and inspect the facility alongside some top government functionaries, traditional rulers, and other stakeholders.
In a remark, Governor Sanwo-Olu thanked President Muhammad Buhari for gracing the event aimed at ensuring sustainable food security.
Earlier, the Lagos Commissioner for Agriculture, Ms Abisola Olusanya noted that with the production of rice from the mill tagged “EKO RICE”, availability of the product would be guaranteed all year round.
RN