The midstream discharge of cargo by big vessels that cannot access the nation’s seaports because of low drafts to small vessels on the sea will end soon as the deep seaports under construction in Lekki, Lagos State, and Bonny, Rivers State are complete, The Nigerian Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi has disclosed.
The minister also stated that the proposed construction of a railway from Kano to Maradi in the Niger Republic will boost capacities of the nation’s seaports as shippers from the Republic will use Nigerian seaports and the rail will also create a lot of investment opportunities for Nigeria.
Amaechi stated this while speaking on infrastructure development of the nation at 60 on the African Independent Television (AIT) programme, Kakaaki, monitored in Lagos.
He said the present seaports in Lagos and other parts of the country are river ports and they lack the standard drafts that can accommodate big vessels. He noted that the Lekki and Bonny deep seaports with 17 metre drafts upon completion will accommodate big vessels and stop midstream discharge and create a huge basket of revenue for the investors to recoup their investment funds.
‘’What we have as seaports are nothing but river ports with drafts below 9 metres that cannot accommodate big vessels. This is why big vessels don’t come to these ports and discharge their cargo midstream to smaller vessels. This will stop when the ports in Lekki and Bonny are finished; big vessels will patronize our ports. The port investors will be able to recoup their funds,’’ said Amaechi.
Justifying the reason Nigeria is extending the railway to Maradi in Niger, Amaechi said ‘’we are acting as an investor. We decided to extend our rail to Maradi to make our seaports attractive for Nigerien shippers to use. It will create generate cargo and employment opportunities for our teeming young population.”
Speaking further, the minister said the nation has borrowed a total of $11.2 billion for total overhauling of the nation’s railway infrastructure including Port-Harcourt – Maiduguri which he said will commence in 2021.
He said that the Lagos-Ibadan rail will be completed in January 2021 and will save the nation a lot of revenue by reducing the cost of transportation, assuring that the Lagos-Calabar railway will commence before President Muhammadu Buhari leaves office in 2023.
‘’Lagos-Calabar railway will commence before we leave office in 2023. It will take four years to complete. We have put the process in place and whoever takes over from President Muhammadu Buhari will complete it,’’ said Amaechi who assured that assembling of wagons by the Chinese handling the railways in the country at Kajola in Ogun State will stop after five years and begin manufacturing of locomotive.
He said it is not the responsibility of his ministry to borrow loans but to initiate projects while it is the responsibility of the ministry of finance to finance the projects and determine the modalities for the repayment of the loans.
He maintained that the nation has done well in terms of infrastructure under the present administration as all projects inherited and initiated have been completed.
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