The Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Wednesday in Abuja approved the signing of an agreement for the development of the Lekki deep seaport in Lagos State.
The Minister of Transport, Senator Idris Umar, stated this while briefing State House correspondents on the outcome of the weekly FEC meeting presided over by Vice-President Namadi Sambo.
He said the seaport project would be executed at the cost of 1.345 billion dollars (about N222 billion).
Umar said it would be executed through the Private-Public-Partnership arrangement, and has been concessioned to Messrs Lekki Ports LFTZ Enterprise for 45 years.
He said 20 per cent is for the Federal Government in terms of the project’s equity shares, with 18.5 for the Lagos State Government and 61.5 for the private investors.
The minister said 800 million dollars out of the project cost would be funded through debt financing, while the balance would be contributed by equity.
He said the seaport when completed would give Nigeria its first deep sea port since independence and end congestion at the Apapa port.
“The economic benefits of this port to this country and to the economy of the country in particular need not to be over-emphasised. Not less than 9.3 billion dollars will be accrued to the (Nigeria Ports Authority) NPA, made up of 2.6 billion dollars from marine services and royalties and then 6.7 billion dollars’ share of profits from the investments.
“Other benefits that will accrue will be the ripple effects of operation of the port from Customs charges and other economic benefits which will not be less than 379 billion dollars over the period of 45 years.
“The ports will create jobs of not less than 162,000. It is therefore of immense benefit to the economy of this country. Therefore, that underscores the need for us to have this deep sea port.”
The minister further stated that the port would automatically revert to the Federal Government at the end of the concession period.
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