China Harbour Completes Construction of $1.5bn Lekki Deep Sea Port

Olufemi Adeyemi

Director-General, Debt Management Office, Ms. Patience Oniha; Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Cui Jianchun; General Manager of China Harbour Engineering LFTZ Enterprise (CHELE), Mr. Xie Xianju; Chairman, Board of Directors, Lekki Port LFTZ Enterprise Limited (Lekki Port); Mr. Biodun Dabiri Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Chief Finance Officer, Lekki Port Cai Pingzhen during the Port Construction Completion Ceremony held on Monday, October 31, 2022, at the Port, Itoke Village, Ibeju Lekki.

China Habour Engineering Company (CHEC) subsidiary China Habour Engineering LFTZ Enterprise (CHELE) has concluded the construction of the $1.5bn Lekki Deep Sea Port in West Africa.

CHELE is the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contractor for the Lekki Deep Sea Port, which will be managed by CMA-CGM subsidiary Lekki Free Port Terminal (LFPT).

The total value of the EPC contract for the project was $581m.

Construction of the port started on 15 June 2020 and was completed this year on 24 October.

The port is anticipated to generate $361bn revenue during the concession period granted by the Nigerian Government and create around 170,000 direct and indirect jobs in the region.

It is also expected to generate more than $201bn in revenue for both Lagos State and the federal government.

Delivering the goodwill message on behalf of Tolaram (promoter and shareholder), the Managing Director of Lagos Free Zone, Mr. Dinesh Rathi, expressed delight at the timely completion of the construction of the port.

He noted that the port would further position LFZ as the next frontier for investment in Nigeria and increase foreign direct investment to Lagos State and Nigeria.

The Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Ambassador Cui Jianchun commended CHEC for displaying excellence in their project skills and promoting China’s commitment to Africa’s infrastructure development drive. He noted that the project was a good example of what can be achieved when Nigeria and China cooperate and he looked forward to more of such projects.

Lekki Port has been described severally, as a game changer that would boost the growth of the Nigerian economy, creating about 170,000 direct and indirect jobs, generating approximately $361 billion during the period of the concession, and generating over $201 billion in revenue for both Lagos State and the federal government.

In his remarks, the Chairman, Board of Directors, of Lekki Port, Mr. Biodun Dabiri, expressed appreciation to the promoters of the project, CHEC and Tolaram, for the bold decision to invest in maritime infrastructure which would help in Nigeria’s journey to economic prosperity.

Dabiri acknowledged the critical role played by Sanwo-Olu in resolving the various challenges encountered in the construction of the port, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic and attendant 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, CHELE), a subsidiary of CHEC,” he said.

Also speaking, the General Project Manager of CHELE, Mr. Xie Xianju, expressed delight that the construction was now completed. He noted that the port would be the destination of choice because it is the first deep sea port with a capacity to take large vessels. He commended the team, partners and suppliers for their contribution to the successful completion of the construction.

Lekki Port is said to have a total of three container berths, one dry bulk berth and three liquid berths.