There is excitement in the air following the approval for the establishment of a seaport in Badagry, Lagos.
At the moment, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), which controls seaports in Nigeria, is in charge of the two ports in Lagos; the Lagos Port Complex and the Tin Can Island Port.
On Wednesday, after the Federal Executive Council (FEC), Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, told State House correspondents that the Federal Government has approved the establishment of the Badagry seaport.
Mr Fashola noted that the port, when completed, would be used to bring in big vessels into the country.
He said at the meeting, presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari, the sum of $2.58 billion was approved to prosecute the project, which would take five years.
The Minister pointed out that the approval was consistent with the Federal Government’s macroeconomic policy to emphasise on tax income following a fall in the oil revenue.
Ministers of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi and his counterpart in the Ministry of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, both described the seaport as a viable infrastructure.
The Badagry seaport was said to have been started by the past administration and was abandoned midway.
Meanwhile, the news has been welcomed by the people of Badagry, who believe the seaport would improve economy of the ancient town.
Adedapo Adesanya