Olokola Deep Seaport To Provide 1 Million Jobs…. Expert

Roland Ekama, Lagos

 

The proposed Olokola deep seaport project in Ondo  State, would  provide at least one million jobs when it eventually come on stream , shipping expert, Otunba Sola Olatunji has said.

 

Olatunji a member of Nigerian Ship Owners Association, (NISA), in chat with newsmen, noted that the much talked about deep sea port in south western part projected to generate not less than one million job opportunities for Nigerians if the project sees the light of the day.

 

As informed views start to favour the proposed Olokola Deep Seaport,  as a more strategic alternative to the cancelled Badagry Deep Seaport,  the  Managing Director , Victory Energy Resources Limited, said that the deep Seaport , when comes on stream, would solve problem of unemployment, increase revenue drive of the state and federal government and tackle issues surrounding youth restiveness in the region.

 

The maritime expert said the project would be a major catalyst to the economy that the direct and indirect jobs it will create would be in excess thus generate revenue for the country with a whopping $9 billion annually.

 

It will be recalled that the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) recently cancelled the proposed Badagry Deep Seaport over alleged discrepancies in the consultant report, but those in the know said a major issue is the gridlock in Lagos which citing of the deep seaport at Lekki and Badagry will definitely compound.

 

According to Otunba Olatunji, another selling point for the Olokola Deep Seaport apart from its taking away the Lagos gridlock is its over nine meters natural draught.

 

He suggested that the proposed sea port be run on a Private and Public Partnership (PPP) model.

 

He said: “Deep Seaport business is all about logistics. I just mentioned to you that out of about 20 vessels that come to West Africa daily, 17 come to Nigeria.

 

“If this port is realized, all those vessels will come here (Olokola) for their maintenance, bunker and groceries.

 

“Do you know the implication? Do you know how much that will be accruable to Nigeria daily from that? Do you know what only ship chandelling activities to these vessels will do to this economy? We are talking of transactions that are all done in foreign exchange,” he said.

 

He further said that the Olokola sea has the longest coast and deepest draught in Nigeria hence will be able to take bigger vessels that cannot berth in Lagos and other River Ports in Nigeria.

 

He maintained that many ancillary services attached to the shipping will help to generate more jobs for the people as well as attract investors into the country.

 

“So, you will now see new businesses thriving, new markets emerging because sailors will come out from the ships to go and buy things.

 

“Boat operators, ancillary service providers will come and investor will put money in the business,” he stressed.