China Harbour Engineering and Construction (CHELE), a division of China Harbour Engineering Company Limited (CHEC), the contractor for the $1.5 billion Lekki Deep Sea Port, has declared the port’s construction to be complete.
Lekki Port, one of the largest deep-sea ports in West Africa, is estimated to bring in $361 billion in revenue for the Nigerian government while also creating around 200,000 job opportunities for the chronic youth unemployment in the country.
At the event marking the end of construction, Mr. Wu Di, Vice President of CHEC and Director of Lekki Port, said that the port’s construction had begun on June 15, 2020, and had ended on Monday, October 24, 2022.
Assuring that his administration was working hard to create a conducive environment for transportation infrastructure, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu stated that construction on a six-lane road network in the Ibeju-Lekki port axis is currently ongoing. This will help to reduce traffic congestion.
Di disclosed that the first phase of the project’s EPC had a $581 million overall contract value.
He continued that the Lekki Free Port Terminal, a division of the CMA/CGM group, would be able to take control of the port in preparation for the launch of port operations, once construction was completed.
Sanwo-Olu expressed happiness with the completion of the port’s construction.
Sanwo-Olu reiterated the dedication of the Lagos State Government to the prompt construction of the road infrastructure network along the Ibeju Lekki axis in order to guarantee the orderly removal of cargo from the port.
In addition, he urged both domestic and foreign investors to make investments in the state, pointing out that the zone was created particularly to promote such projects.
The project’s promoters, CHEC and Tolaram, were praised by the chairman of the Lekki Port Board of Directors, Mr Biodun Dabiri, for their audacious choice to invest in maritime infrastructure that would aid Nigeria’s transition to economic prosperity.
Dabiri acknowledged Sanwo-Olu’s contribution to overcoming the many difficulties experienced during the port’s construction, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic and ensuing lockdown.
“We are pleased to celebrate the completion of construction of the port and the effective handover of the facilities by Lekki Port from the EPC Contractor, a subsidiary of CHELE,” the Director said.
The General Project Manager of CHELE, Mr Xie Xianju, also spoke and expressed happiness that the building was finally finished. As the first deep sea port with the capacity to handle huge vessels, he opined that the port would be the preferred location. He expressed his gratitude to the group, partners, and suppliers for their contributions to the construction’s successful conclusion
