Adedapo Adesanya
By Adedapo Adesanya
After years of discussions, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) on Thursday in Lagos assured that the one-billion-dollar Ondo State Multipurpose Deep Seaport project had gotten all necessary approval for its implementation.
NPA’s Managing Director, Mr Mohammed Bello-Koko, gave the assurance when he received visiting Ondo State Coordinator for Special Projects, Mr Boye Oyewumi, who submitted the Full Business Case for the port.
Located on the coast of Ondo State, the Ondo Deep Seaport project would be funded through a Public Private Partnership.
Receiving the case report, Mr Bello-Koko assured that the NPA would work with the Federal Ministry of Transportation and with other relevant agencies to obtain approvals to enable the port to begin operations.
“The NPA has consistently restated its readiness to provide requisite technical guidance for the establishment of new ports in line with global best practices,’’ he said.
“In keeping with NPA’s commitment to creating an enabling atmosphere for the construction of more deep seaports, the Ondo State project will come to fruition,’’ Mr Bello-Koko assured.
In 2021, the governor of the state, Mr Rotimi Akeredolu, while speaking at a forum, said the structure was strategically positioned to allow the easy movement of goods to the Southeast, South-south, North-west, and North-central regions of the country.
According to him, investors have already shown interest in developing the port, saying the state has the deepest draught in West Africa.
“Everything going to southeast or South-South and the North pass through Ondo State; all these activities will make us advise the federal government on the importance of Port Ondo,” Mr Akeredolu said at the event themed Maximizing Export Potentials In The South-West Region For Economic Growth.
He was also optimistic that the country’s busiest port in Apapa would be decongested.
“We can boast of the deepest draught in West Africa. We are ready, and we have done our work, and people have shown interest. It is a pity we have to go through many protocols, including the port declaration,” the Governor added.
