Sunday Southerner
INVESTIGATION:
The deep seaport in Ogun State for which DP World, a Dubai investment group, has signed a memorandum of understanding to invest $7 billion into its development, may not see the light of day.
With four port complexes, a functional deep seaport already in Lekki and another deep seaport also projected for Badagry, the Ogun venture, dubbed Gateway Deep Sea Port, may not be viable enough for DP World to venture into.
Mr. Okey Ibeke, a maritime expert and principal consultant of International Trade Advisory Services Ltd, told Sunday Southerner that there are already too many deep seaport projects being conceptualised without thorough evaluation of their viability and functionality. The Ogun State Gateway Deep Seaport, he said, falls into the category.
Located just 60km from Lagos and the Lekki Deep Sea Port which is already on stream, Ibeke said when DP World does a thorough evaluation of its economic viability, the port may not meet the threshold.
“Of course, Ogun State is Nigeria’s main industrial hub. But given its proximity to Lagos ports and the fact that it does not represent a viable option for the business community in the south east and south south, it may not enjoy optimum patronage,” he said.
Rather than the complaint that trailed the Ogun State-DP World venture, he said the governors of Delta and Akwa Ibom states should drive the building of deep seaports in their domain and seek private investors.
The federal government merely gave guarantee for Gateway Deep Seaport. “There are many ports in Lagos, there is the Lekki Deepsea port and the Badagry Deepsea port. It’s merely an MOU. DP world will still assess its viability which may scale critical scrutiny,” Ibeke stated.
Deep-sea ports in Akwa Ibom and Delta states could attract larger vessels, reduce freight costs, ease congestion at Lagos ports and accelerate import-export trade.
Their strategic Niger Delta location would stimulate oil and gas, agriculture, manufacturing and logistics. They could generate employment, attract foreign investment, boost government revenue and strengthen Nigeria’s competitiveness in West and Central African maritime commerce.
Ibeke challenged Delta’s Sheriff Oborevwori and
State is Umo Bassey Eno, his Akwa Ibom state counterpart to initiate concrete moves to attract genuine investors.
“We don’t need all the proposed ports. Only Akwa Ibom and Delta hold very bright prospects given their strategic location. Calabar does not need a Deepsea port as the Calabar port is the most modern in the country. The channels only require capital dredging,” Ibeke stated.
The Federal Government had approved and certified six additional deep seaport projects alongside the modernization of existing ports to expand national maritime capacity and reduce reliance on Lagos.
He noted that although Lekki was approved by President Olusegun Obasanjo, it was powered by Lagos government which took a stake in the project, provided a huge expanse of land and ensured the investors were shielded from undue interference.
“The federal government has not prevented other states from developing theirs. What they lack is vision and political will. Undue politicization and lack of political will are what have stalled the Ibom Deep Seaport Port which was conceptualised more than 20 years by then Governor Victor Attah,” he said.
They are the Badagry Deep Seaport Port in Lagos near the border with Benin republic, Gateway Deep Sea Port and Olokola Deep Sea Port located along Ondo coastline as a strategic maritime and industrial gateway.
Others are Ibom Deep Sea Port, Bakkasi Deep Sea Port, in Cross River, Bonny Deep Sea Port in Rivers State and Agge Deep Sea Port in Bayelsa State.
