By Ephraims Sheyin
Not long ago, the Minister of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, visited the site for the construction of a green-field deep seaport at Finima, Bonny Island in Rivers State.
His mission was to resolve grey areas around the site to pave way for the immediate commencement of work.
At that visit, Acting Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Mohammed Bello-Koko, assured Nigerians that NPA would ensure a speedy actualisation of the multi-billion naira project for the benefit of the Niger Delta region and the larger Nigerian economy.
The NPA boss, who spoke with newsmen after an assessment tour of the Onne Port Complex and the Rivers Port Complex in Port Harcourt, shortly after the visit to Bonny, described the Bonny Deep Seaport project as a “game changer”.
Details of the project show that the Bonny Deep Seaport project covering a land area of 275.22 hectares is to be developed through direct investment by Messrs. China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) Nigeria Limited, on a Design, Build, Finance, Operate and Transfer (DBFOT), basis.
Its project scope includes construction of a breakwater, revetment, container berth, general goods berth, dredging of the access channel and turning basin, construction of office buildings and warehouses.
The new port with a draught of 17 metres will have a terminal capacity of 500,000 TEUs per annum, and 100,000 DWT general cargo berth.
The Deep Seaport project will be boosted by the rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt – Maiduguri rail-line with a branch at Elelenwo in Port Harcourt, heading to Dere, Bodo and terminating in Bonny.
The Bonny seaport, the Port Harcourt to Maiduguri rail line and a new Railway Industrial Park in Port Harcourt, all combined with a value of about $3.2billion, were flagged off in March this year by President Muhammadu Buhari.
The NPA helmsman disclosed that with the identification of the best site for the Bonny Deep Seaport project, the construction process would take off in earnest.
“Having resolved the location with the highest economic value for Bonny Deep Seaport, we are very hopeful construction will start this year.
“The chosen location has a natural draft of 17 meters. On the Western flank is the Lekki Deep Seaport which will come on stream next year.
“These port projects will usher in a new era of tremendous economic prosperity for our dear nation and further consolidate our position as the regional trade hub in West and Central Africa,” he said.
Speaking further on the uniqueness of the Bonny Deep Seaport, Koko said, “what is very striking is that we are having a new seaport that will be serviced by rail from the beginning.
“The reconstructed rail track between Port Harcourt and Maiduguri will have an extension to the Bonny Deep Seaport. It’s about 56 km. This will facilitate quick evacuation of cargo among other benefits. That means we will have a multi-modal arrangement in place from the onset, unlike in our older ports that depend solely on road,” he noted.
Maritime experts agree with the NPA boss and have pointed out that in line with global trends, the railway link would fast-track the export of raw materials with value addition, as well as locally made finished goods.
They further pointed out that with a deep seaport like the ones to emerge from Lekki in Lagos and Bonny Island, Nigeria would be able to attract transit cargo meant for its landlocked neighbours as well as retain her own captive cargo.
There will also be a reduction with respect to ship-to-ship transfer activities taking place at nearby ports of Lome and Cotonou, for cargoes destined for the Nigerian market. The operation of a deep seaport in Bonny will thus enhance Nigeria’s place as a maritime hub status in Africa, the experts further note.
As anxious Nigerians wait for the new projects, Bello-Koko has also reiterated that the NPA management would equally remain steadfast to the full revitalisation of all the ports within the Eastern corridor of the country.
With the seaports serving as a development catalyst, the NPA boss has also appealed to the people of the Niger Delta to support and own the Bonny Deep Seaport.
He particularly noted that the Federal Government and its partner would be deploying huge financial resources towards the construction of the new port on Bonny Island in appreciation that seaports drive economic development and create massive employment opportunities.
Mr Sesan Onileimo, Executive Director, Maritime Industry Advocacy Initiative, an NGO, shares Bello-Koko’s conviction.
“With the rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt to Maiduguri rail-track, it is expected that people of the Niger Delta will be peaceful and support the timely construction of, and protect, the new Bonny Deep Seaport by becoming an integral part of the project.
“There is no doubt that with the rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt to Maiduguri rail-track, the construction of the seaport will create massive employment and consequently transform the overall economic landscape of Nigeria.
“Worldwide, it has been acknowledged, without iota of doubt, that investments in deep seaports help to drive economic diversification, facilitate cross border trade, enhance local content development and wealth creation for public good.
“The task for the Niger Delta residents is to take full advantage of this massive marine investment in their area to shore up their economy,” he said.
Like Onileimo, many analysts have challenged the Niger Delta residents to fully support the Bonny Deep Seaport project and embrace it as a catalyst for massive economic growth that would improve their living conditions. (NANFeatures).
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