Badagry Deep Seaport will maximize Nigeria maritime potential, says NIMASA boss, Jamoh

The Director General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Bashir Jamoh has expressed optimism that the anticipated Badagry Deep Seaport in Lagos State will help Nigeria to maximize her potential in the maritime sector, thereby becoming a global maritime hub.
While speaking recently during a courtesy visit to the paramount ruler of Badagry Kingdom, His Royal Majesty, De-Wheno Aholu Menu Toyi 1, the Akran of Badagry, Jamoh disclosed that the foundation of the proposed Badagry Deep Seaport will be laid before the end of January, 2021, adding that the seaport is designed to be the biggest and most advanced port in the Africa when it comes on stream.
“Nigeria is strategically located at a significant point in the Atlantic Ocean, with about 853 kilometres coastline, which gives us a geographic advantage to become a maritime hub for not only the West and Central African region, but also the entire maritime trading world. And with over 70 per cent of cargo bound for West and Central Africa destined for Nigeria, we also have a huge commercial advantage.
“The Badagry Deep Seaport, planned to be Africa’s biggest and most advanced seaport when it becomes operational, would help to maximise this extraordinary maritime potential. This is more so given the strategic place of Badagry in the region”, the Director-General stated,
The NIMASA boss expressed a profound appreciation to the Akran for the land allocated to NIMASA for the project, promising that the land would be judiciously utilised.
Jamoh also assured that he would work with the traditional ruler and the kingdom to see to the implementation of the deep seaport project.
Commenting on the deep seaport project, the Alipoto of Badagry Kingdom, Chief Gbenga Fayemi, said it was important for Badagry and the country, stressing that the project is suitably located since Badagry lay between the lagoon and the ocean.
Princess A. F. I. Senami Akran, in her own remarks described the visit of the NIMASA Director-General and the coming of the deep seaport to Badagry represented a blessing to the community.
Jamoh, who was personally received at the palace by the Akran and his Council of Chiefs, was presented with the Badagry Pilgrimage Award, which is a special recognition accorded dignitaries for visiting the town.
The Badagry Deep Seaport project, according to the Head, Corporate Communications, NIMKASA, Mr. Philip Kyanet, is located in the Gberefun area of Badagry, along the Lagos-Badagry expressway, about 55 kilometres (34 miles) west of the Apapa and Tin Can Island Port complexes. The port is proposed to be about four kilometres of quay and approximately 620 hectares of dedicated port facilities.
It will also include facilities for handling containers, dry bulk, liquid bulk, roll-on-roll-off (RoRo) and general cargo, as well as oil and gas operations support. The port will also have about 480 hectares of Industrial and Logistic Park Zone.
The Badagry Deep Seaport project is being executed through a public-private partnership overseen by the Federal Ministry of Transportation, Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment, and Lagos State Government, as well as a private consortium of APM Terminals, Orlean Invest, Oando, Terminal Investment Limited (TIL) and Macquarie.