Maritime

‘Lekki Port’ll Boost GDP By 200%’

Published

4 years ago

March 28, 2022

A renowned stakeholder in the Nigeria’s maritime industry, Mr Adetokunbo Kayode, has said the Lekki Deep Seaport will boost the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 200 per cent when operational.
Kayode, who is the President, Nigeria Private Sector Alliance, insisted that the Port would also encourage the diversification of the economy.
Disclosing this to newsmen during an interview, he described the Port as one of the biggest in Africa, saying it would be of huge benefit to the nation’s economy.
Kayode, a former Attorney General and Minister of Justice, said upon its completion, the project would result in better efficiency in the import and export of goods in the country.
“Of course, it will also help us to reduce the stress that has been created by Apapa Port, which is a colonial port which we ought to have been done away with 50 years ago.
”But right now, we have this opportunity, this first phase which hopefully should be completed before the end of the year would help to alleviate all the challenges of international trade in Nigeria.
“The main aim of government is to diversify the economy which includes expanding your export trade.
“So, this new Port will help greatly to increase the opportunity for enhancing our export business, especially in a volumetric business like agriculture and mining.
“Right now, we do very minimal solid mineral export, which is just a shame but with this opportunity and other policies coming into place.
“It will help proper development of the mining industry, the beneficiation industry as well as the processing industry for minerals and agricultural products and we will be able to ship things out”, he said.
Kayode continued that the port has the potential to increase Nigeria’s GDP by almost 200 per cent because it will open doors for people to do business and help the nation benefit from the gains of the African Continental Free Trade Area.
“You know Nigerians are not lazy people, it’s just that there is this disconnect between government and the private enterprise.
“So, with this continued efforts of government to enhance this very important cooperation between the private and the public sector, we can do a lot more”, he stated.
Kayode, therefore, urged the Federal Government to profer solutions to the challenges of a good road network and rail connectivity to the port for better service delivery of the project.
Also Speaking, Managing Director, Nigerian Export Processing Zone Authority (NEPZA), Prof. Adesoji Adesugba, said the Lekki Port could accommodate the biggest vessel in the world, and create jobs for thousands of Nigerians.
“We are going to have thousands of Nigerians working here as the effect on the GDP will be awesome.
”The location of the port here is going to open doors for those who want to have their factories and production centres around the Lagos Free Zone.
“The effect of this is that Nigerian goods will be competitive. Companies will be able to employ more Nigerians rather than go outside to employ foreigners”, Adesugba said.
Earlier, the Executive Secretary, Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC), Mr Emmanuel Jime, said the Lekki Port would boost other ancillary businesses in the country.
“It means that the economic imperative in terms of profit making will also quadruple because the more business that you do the less costly it is to do that business as well.
“We are moving away from the kind of gridlock that we had in Apapa and Tin-can and I’m happy to be part of history of this event”, he said.

Maritime

MWUN REAFFIRMS NON-PARTISAN STANCE AHEAD OF 2027 ELECTION

Published

1 week ago

March 16, 2026

The Tide

The Maritime Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MWUN) has reaffirmed strong positions towards maintaining non partisan stance ahead of the 2027 general elections .

The President General of MWUN, Comrade Francis Bunu disclosed this while welcoming executives from the Transporters for Tinubu 2027 Political Support Group at its headquarters on 119 Osho Drive, Olodi-Apapa, Lagos,

The union boss underscored MWUN role as a neutral player in national development.

According to a statement signed by Comrade John Kennedy Ikemefuna, Head of Media for MWUN, the union’s President-General, hosted the visitors who outlined their initiative.

Comrade Bunu expressed gratitude for the recognition, affirming the union’s support for any efforts promoting progress, unity, and development in Nigeria.

He emphasized, however, that MWUN remains strictly non-partisan, committed solely to good governance and strategic initiatives that elevate the nation regardless of political affiliation.

This engagement highlights MWUN’s frontline position in labor and transport while reinforcing its impartial dedication to the country’s advancement.

The group aims to foster collaboration among government, transport operators, private entities, and grassroots stakeholders to boost national mobility, economic growth, and sectoral reforms.

By: Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos

Maritime

ASU BEKS APPEALS TO GOVT FOR TANTITA TO MANAGE NIMASA’S ABANDONED N50BN FLOATING DOCKYARD

Published

1 week ago

March 16, 2026

The Tide

The Chief Executive Officer of Maritime Media Limited and Convener of the Maritime Industry Merit Awards (MIMA), Elder Asu Beks, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to concession the abandoned floating dockyard owned by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), describing the asset as a “national embarrassment” after more than a decade of neglect.

Speaking during a live interview on Arise TV on Tuesday, Asu Beks said the floating dock, valued at about N50 billion, was originally planned to be deployed at Okerenkoko in Delta State to support training activities at the Nigerian Maritime University.

According to him, the asset has remained largely unused since its acquisition in 2016, moving between different facilities including the Naval Dockyard Limited, Continental Shipyard Limited and most recently Snake Island in Lagos without being fully operational.

Beks said the prolonged inactivity of the dockyard represents a huge financial loss to the country, especially as government continues to incur costs in maintaining the facility.

“Why should Nigeria allow an asset worth about N50 billion to waste away for over 10 years?” he asked.

He urged the Federal Government to urgently concession the facility to a credible Nigerian private company capable of restoring it to full operational capacity.

Beks specifically suggested Tantita Security Services Limited as a possible operator, citing the company’s track record in oil pipeline and maritime security operations in the Niger Delta.

“With the operational network and technical capacity of companies like Tantita, this abandoned asset can be transformed into a profitable national facility,” he said.

The maritime stakeholder also criticised past leadership in the sector for failing to address the situation, particularly during the tenure of former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, who served for eight years.

According to Beks, the continued neglect of the floating dockyard raises serious questions about asset management in Nigeria’s maritime sector.

He also questioned why successive leadership of NIMASA including former Director-Generals Dakuku Peterside and Bashir Jamoh did not resolve the issue during their time in office.

Beks urged the current Director-General of NIMASA, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, to take decisive action and change the narrative by ensuring the asset becomes productive.

He argued that reviving the dockyard would provide significant economic value to the country, particularly by strengthening ship repair capacity and supporting maritime training.

Beks further noted that issues such as the operationalisation of the floating dockyard and economic regulation in the shipping sector remain far more critical to the industry than symbolic achievements.

He stressed that Nigeria must prioritise the effective utilisation of strategic maritime assets to drive economic growth and reduce dependence on foreigners

By: Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos

Maritime

NPA LICENSE APPROVAL DELAYS IS WORRISOME—ANLCA SCRIBE

Published

1 week ago

March 16, 2026

The Tide

Clearing agents operating at the nation’s ports have criticized the Nigerian Ports Authority ( NPA) over it’s silence regarding unprocessed operational licenses.

The agents warned that the situation could disrupt cargo clearance activities across the ports if urgent action is not taken.

Speaking during a media briefing, the National Public Relations Officer of the Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Mr. Emmanuel Onyeme called out spokesperson of the NPA, Mr. Ikechukwu Onyemekara, over alleged failure to respond to calls and messages from stakeholders.

Onyeme said dozens of freight agents who submitted applications for the NPA’s Clearing & Forwarding License operational clearance for PortPASS- an authority to do business with shipping companies have not received any response for more than two weeks

According to Onyeme, the approval from the NPA is a crucial requirement that allows freight agents to gain access to the ports and transact business with shipping companies and terminal operators after securing their licences from the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).

“Without the Clearing & Forwarding License issued by the NPA, freight agents can not access the ports or engage shipping companies and terminal operators for cargo releases . It is a critical operational requirement,” Onyeme said.

He disclosed that the approval process, which was previously handled at NPA offices within the seaports, has recently been centralised at the authority’s headquarters, forcing agents to submit their documents directly to the office of the Managing Director.

However, Onyeme noted that many of the applications have remained unattended to it.

“As we speak, several freight agents have submitted their documents to the Managing Director’s office, and these applications have been lying there for more than two weeks without any form of response,” he said.

He warned that the silence from the authority is already creating anxiety within the freight forwarding community, especially as many shipping companies and terminal operators have indicated that from April 1, 2026, previously issued NPA Licence approvals will no longer be recognised.

Onyeme further expressed frustration over the lack of communication from the NPA’s spokesman, alleging that repeated attempts by stakeholders to reach him have been unsuccessful.

“The situation is worrisome because there is absolutely no feedback. Calls and text messages sent to the NPA spokesperson have not been responded to, leaving Custom Brokers and freight forwarders agents in the dark over the fate of their applications,” he said.

According to him, the delay could prevent many licensed customs agents from accessing the ports or engaging shipping companies, thereby affecting cargo clearance and port-related businesses.

He therefore called on the management of the NPA to urgently intervene and ensure that the pending approvals are processed without further delay.

“Even if the Managing Director is out of the country or unavailable, there should be a system that allows someone else to handle such important operational matters promptly,” Onyeme added.

By: Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos