The Minister of Transportation, Mu’azu Jaji Sambo, is expected to soon formally make a ‘Port Declaration’ of the proposed Ondo Deep Sea Port to herald commencement of the development of the port.
The Minister gave this indication on Tuesday when the Governor of Ondo State, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, visited him in Abuja.
He commended the steps so far taken by the state government to actualise the port.
After listening to a technical presentation by the Consultants to the Ondo State Government, the Minister said once all the prerequisites established by the extant laws are met, the Federal Government will not hesitate to make Port Ondo Declaration, pursuant to Section 30 of the Ports Act.
“We want to see this port come to life before the end of this administration,” he said.
The Minister stressed that there are only two deep sea ports in Nigeria, while all others are river ports, including Apapa and Tin-Can ports, adding that the development of the Deep Sea Port in Ondo is a welcome development.
Speaking earlier, the Governor of Ondo State, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, said the reason for the visit was to acquaint the Transport Ministry with the vision of the State Government on the development of deep seaport in Ilaje area of Ondo in accordance with the Federal Government’s module of public private partnership.
Akeredolu, who said the port will bring enormous socio-economic benefits to the country, disclosed that DP World and China Habours are among the many international partners who have signalled interest in developing the port.
Also speaking at the event, the Minister of State for Transportation, Ademola Adegoroye, said the Ondo State Government has made a compelling case for the port and thanked the Transport Minister, Mu’azu Jaji Sambo, for his support.
Adegoroye, who is an indigene of Ondo State, assured Akeredolu that Transportation Ministry would accord project priority attention, and ensure that the port comes to life before the end of his tenure as Minister.
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