The Federal Executive Council gave its permission in August for the Badagry Deep Seaport, and the governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has now been given the go-ahead to develop it.
Following the issuance of the Full Business Case Certificate by the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission last April, the approval, which was given at the recently concluded Lagos State Economic Summit (Ehingbeti 2022), is said to authorise and provide the legal basis for the concession of the Badagry Deep Seaport. The statement was signed by Sanwo-Chief Olu’s Press Secretary, Gboyega Akosile.
The $2.5 billion project, which would be paid for through a public-private partnership, would be constructed over an area of around 496 hectares, the statement claims. A 2,470-meter-long container terminal, a 560-meter-long break-bulk terminal, a 360-meter-long OSB terminal, and a minimum of 18m depth.
It was expected to generate 250,000 direct jobs, enhance government revenue and operate under a build, operate and transfer concession agreement. Speaking on the development, Sanwo-Olu said the Seaport would boost Lagos State’s logistics and commerce capability.
He said, “We are excited that Lagos is on the way to having another deep seaport on the Western side of the city. Before the end of this year, we will be commissioning the Lekki Deep Seaport on the Eastern side. What it means is that what we have been suffering as a logistics and commerce hub of West Africa will be addressed when we increase maritime infrastructure that improves turnaround time in this sector.”
With this, Lagos is certain to continue serving as the hub of sub-Saharan Africa’s commerce and economy. Additionally, Sanwo-Olu signed a Memorandum of Understanding to establish an Energy Training Center of Excellence at the Government Technical College in Ikorodu with Siemens Energy Limited and the German-owned Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit.
Over 16,000 young people between the ages of 15 and 35 would get a needs-based technical and vocational education through the training, which would be carried out in conjunction with the Lagos State Technical and Vocational Education Board.
With a focus on contemporary practice, the curriculum was supposed to develop highly trained industry technicians. A 30% seat will be given to female candidates, according to Sanwo-Olu, to increase the number of women pursuing engineering degrees.
