Lekki Freeport Newly Constructed Holding Bay can Accommodate 150 trucks- Olubi-Neye

....Invests $100million on Brand new Equipments

Joy Mmereole Okoli

The Lekki Freeport Terminal Chief Commercial Officer, Kehinde Olubi-Neye has said that the newly built Truck Holding Bay can accommodate 150 trucks.

Mr Olubi-Neye stated this at a media conference held at the port’s complex in Ibeju Lekki, on Wednesday in Lagos. He explained that once operations resumes fully at the port, trucks will have no reason to park along the port's access roads as the new Truck Holding Bay which is very close to the port can accommodate as much as150 trucks.

“We have a Holden Bay already constructed for trucks. At the level that it is now, it can be used by trucks. The entry and exit gates are well constructed and the floors are paved.

“The Holding Bay can accommodate 150 trucks with the Electronic Call-Up system that will manage movements in and out of the port. It is expected to manage the arrival and departure of trucks that have businesses to conduct at the ports,” he stated.

He also said that the port has spent over $100million in acquisition of cargo and terminal handling equipment.

He further said the Port has the needed equipment and the draft to recover transshipment cargo bound for landlocked neighbouring countries back into the country.

“The Lekki Freeport Terminal has discussed with stakeholders including Nigeria Customs Service and they are confident that recovering transshipment cargo not just for the hinterland but also for landlocked countries and other regional countries will be back in the country,” he stated.

Speaking on cargo evacuation from the port, he said that the Lekki Port operates an automated system that is linked to the automated gate with the vehicle booking system where truck drivers are required to book appointments in advance.

“This also supports the initiative of the Lagos State Government with regards to the comprehensive call-up system for the Lagos Free Zone, Lekki Port, Dangote Free Zone, Dangote Refinery and Pinnacle Oil and Gas.

“We are in active discussions with the Lagos State Ministry of Transport and other stakeholders on the deployment of the call-up system for the Lekki area and we have confidence that the coming onboard of the call-up system for trucks will address any concerns that prospective port users would have over access to the port,” he said.

Beyond the road, he said that Lekki Port is also exploring the possibility of moving cargo by barges and has been able to execute more than five barge moves of over 900 twenty-foot equivalent units of containers (TEUs) from Lekki Port to the Ikorodu area of Lagos.

He commended the efforts of the Federal Government and Lagos State Government in constructing the roads, which he said has improved significantly.

On plans by the port to return Nigeria’s lost transshipment cargoes, Olubi-neye said they had the opportunity of sitting with the Managing Director of NPA where he reiterated that the Lekki port should ensure that the transshipment status that was taken away from the country returns.

"NPA regulates prices and they are interested in ensuring this cargo comes back and we are sure they will provide us with the necessary support."

On his part, the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Mohammed Bello-Koko, who was represented by Ikechukwu Onyemakara, described Lekki Port as a Nigerian project and assured that NPA would do everything within it powers to grant necessary approvals and to provide marine services to the port and also fast track any project brought to them to ensure the port works perfectly.

The Chief Executive Officer of Lekki Freeport Terminal, Yann Magarian, said the Lekki Port would shape the maritime

economy of the country and called on Nigerians to embrace and promote the port.

He disclosed that the port is fully automated to eliminate human contacts and well equipped as some of the equipment seen in the terminal especially the ship-to-shore crane at the port is mostly seen in big ports in Dubai and Singapore.

He added that the Lekki Port can do a lot for Nigeria in terms of generating revenue worth billions of dollars and create thousands of jobs for Nigerians.

Also the Zonal Administrator, Nigeria Export Processing Authority (NEPZA), Garba Hayatu assured promoter of the seaport of necessary incentives adding that they will always answer whenever called upon.