Lekki Port Awaits President Buhari’s Commissioning, As Trial Operations Starts in Q1 2023
L-R: Head of Legal, Lekki Port LFTZ Enterprise Limited (LPLEL) Opeyemi Emmanuel Olubake, Chief Operations Officer, Lawrence Smith, Managing Director, Mr Du Ruogang, Mr Mathew Oloyede and the Deputy Chief Operations Officer, Mr Daniel Odibe during a media parley in Lagos on Wednesday.
…Says Liquid Berth Terminals Underway in Phase 2 Construction
By DAPO OLAWUNI
The Managing Director, Lekki Port LFTZ Enterprise Limited (LPLEL), Mr Du Ruogang, has said that the newly completed Lekki Deep Sea Port is ready for official commissioning by President Muhammadu Buhari in order for commercial operations to commence.
Mr Ruogang stated this during the End-of-the-Year Media Parley held in Lagos on Wednesday, December 21, 2022.
The port is also expected to commence full commercial operations 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.
The port has also opened up discussions with three potential operators of Liquid berth terminals which is going to be constructed st the port. This is critical to the commencement of the construction of Phase 2 of the port.
Already, the port is expected to receive scanning machines which would be used for Customs Service cargo examination by February 2023.
In his welcome remarks during the media parley, Mr Ruogang assured that all necessary arrangements are being put in place for the official commissioning by President Muhammadu Buhari, after which the port will be fully set for the start of commercial operations.
He noted that the terminal operator, Lekki Free Port Terminal (LFT), is putting everything in place to give a world-class port experience.
Also, all the relevant agencies have been sensitised to undertake their roles in the new port.
Ruogang applauded the media, noting that the media is an important stakeholder in the port’s success. He also requested that the press extend the same support to the container terminal operator, Lekki Freeport Terminal, as they prepare to commence operations.
During the parley, it was noted that 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 also expressed appreciation to the Federal Government through the Ministry of Transportation and other relevant agencies, including the Nigerian Port Authority (NPA), Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC), and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) for their contribution to making the port a reality.
In his remarks, the Chief Operating Officer, Lekki Port LFTZ Enterprise Limited (LPLEL), Laurence Smith, revealed that 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.
Smith hinted that 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.
