The Minister of Transportation, Alhaji Muazu Sambo, has disclosed that the Lekki Deep-Sea Port project would create 112,000 jobs for Nigerians upon its completion.
Sambo stressed on the significance of the port as it has the capacity to berth the largest ships in the world.
This was made known by the minister while having a chat with journalists on Sunday in Jalingo.
Sambo said that the port, which was second in Nigeria after Onne Deep-Sea Port, has the potential to garner more revenues for the country.
What the Transportation Minister is saying
Sambo pointed out that the project would impact positively on the nation’s economy, adding that the port has the ability to put food on the table of many Nigerians as more jobs are created.
He said, “The Lekki deep-sea port project, which is the second after Onne Deep Sea Port in Nigeria is very significant, because the largest ships in the world can berth at the Port.
“That means, more tonnage, more cargo, more revenue for the port and for the country, more economic activities.
” And above all, more jobs, like I said, over 112, 000 both direct and indirect jobs will be created as a result of the creation of the Lekki deep-sea port.
“This will be in the first few years and as time goes on and as activities expand, the number of jobs will even multiply and that is what is good for us.
“For as more jobs we have, the more our ability to put food on the table of many Nigerians.’’
Road projects to go on despite redeployment
The minister said that his redeployment from the federal ministry of Works and Housing to Transportation would not affect the ongoing execution of road projects in the state.
He said, “I have been given assurance from the Ministry of Works and Housing that as soon as funds are released from the federal ministry of Finance, contractors will receive their outstanding payments and will be able to continue with their work.
“My movement to the ministry of Transportation does not mean that the impact of infrastructure in Taraba as far as road is concerned will end.
”Even in the federal ministry of transportation, we have agencies that have corporate social responsibilities to execute projects.
“Such corporate social responsibilities will include all those activities that will touch the lives of the common man including township roads.
“And I intend to explore that option to be able to bring more succour to the people of Taraba State.’’
What you should know
- The Lekki Deep Seaport, designed to be a significant game-changer in Nigeria’s maritime economy and constructed by China Habour Engineering firm, is a $2 billion investment in the Lagos Free Trade zone initiated by Tolaram Group, a Singaporean company.
- The deep seaport is expected to generate huge job opportunities for Lagos residents as well as boost the Federal Government’s efforts to decongest the Lagos ports in Apapa and Tin Can.
- President Muhammadu Buhari has earlier in July, approved the designation of Lekki Deep Seaport as a customs port and approved wharf.
It will be of great important and benefits to all Nigerians if really the job opportunities will be created for Nigerians youths to be employed that will reduced the issue of insurgency, kidnappers etc and by God grace our country will be restored with her normalcy and we will move forward IJMN.
A nation with so many challenges by definition is full of so many opportunities. Even at the lower end of the economic and skill scale, in a nation that is struggling to adequately feed itself, there’s no reason why all those “youth” sleeping under bridges and robbing people in traffic should not be able to find opportunities along the agricultural value chain.
The same “youth” who complain about the cost of school book and handouts somehow have no trouble finding money for 2 or 3 laptops to do Yahoo. Meanwhile, anyone who can afford an AK-47 (and even grenade launchers) or make IEDs can afford a grinding machine, a tool box, or can become an electrician or mechanic.
Even nearby Ghana has about 36% youth unemployment, an inflation rate of almost 31% (food inflation almost 35%), while here are many countries across Africa (including Rwanda), Middle East and Asia with large swathes of folks even POORER than Nigerians, but somehow still manage to conduct themselves as decent human beings.
But let’s continue to EXCUSE (and even essentially SUPPORT) CRIMINALITY! Nigeria has become a country populated by folks with little or NO moral hazard.SMH
And non of u guys find it necessary that a good functioning port will make sense in the SE/SS area abi,those regions no follow be Nigeria abi,everything MUST be in Lagos and Abuja,no wahala make una continue
note that the SE cannot host a seaport, only the SS can..The SE is landlocked.. the niger river remains a river and not a sea that can attract container ships..however a river port can be made to function in the SE
I don’t understand! are you trying to take a swipe at the Southeast?
@Stefan Anetoh, I don’t see anything in Emmanuel’s comment that was confusing or difficult to understand. The SE is largely landlocked and there is an appropriate river port for the River Niger at Onitsha.
Meanwhile, suffice it to note that both the Lekki Port and the proposed Badagry Port are PRIVATE SECTOR-led projects (Tolaram in Lekki, and AP Moller in Badagry), in partnership with the LASG and the involvement of the NPA only being the result of the NPA Act that grants the NPA a statutory monopoly in port operations in Nigeria. Other states are free to do likewise and attract PRIVATE investments to develop sea (or river) ports. Akwa Ibom is reportedly already doing something similar with France’s Bollore.