Oba Akran joins MARAN to canvass for a deep seaport in Badagry

He recalled that a maritime organisation had mooted the idea of the deep seaport in Badagry about four years ago, but nothing was done by government about it.

He said Badagry should be able to have its own seaport going by its numerous natural endowments.

The Akran said a lot of imports presently come through Cotonou port, adding that if a seaport was built in Badagry, it would check massive importation through the neighbouring port.

“The deep sea port would serve the West African sub-region and beyond,’’ he said.

The President of MARAN, Mr Adeleye Ajayi stressed the need to have a deep sea port in Badagry to compete effectively with others in the sub-region.

Ajayi said the immense potential of Badagry in produce like palm kernel, coconut and tourist attraction centres made it imperative to have such a port.

He said that the port would also boost employment opportunities in the city and its environs and generate revenue to local, state and the federal governments.

The MARAN president said the association would at the beginning of the second quarter of the year hold a sensitisation seminar in Badagry with the stakeholders to facilitate the construction of the port.