By Steve Agbota, [email protected]
When the construction of the $1.5 billion Lekki Deep Seaport began some years ago, critics of the project had lampooned the initiators whom they accused of siting it in an environment with very poor road network.
People living around Lekki, Ajah, Ibeju, Sangotedo and Epe axis were sceptical about the location as they feared that the roads leading to the port will turn Lekki and its environment into another Apapa and Tin Can Island Ports’ access roads, currently plagued with unending gridlock.
Today, Lekki Deep Seaport has been completed and commissioned by former President Muhammadu Buhari with smooth operations ongoing over several months now.
The port was built to win back Nigeria’s lost cargoes from ports in Togo, Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire. The port is also expected to create 169,972 jobs and bring revenues totaling $201 billion to state and Federal Governments through taxes, royalties and duties.
The port has been receiving and discharging ships with cargoes and doing some transshipment to neighbouring countries and beyond.
However, recent investigation carried out by Daily Sun revealed that with ongoing construction on the major roads linking the port, which include; Coastal roads, Lekki-Ajah-Eleko and Ikorodu-Itokin-Epe roads, several cargoes evacuation have been carried out from Lekki Port by road to other part of the country without delay or traffic jam.
Daily Sun learnt that 60 per cent of the cargoes exists the port via road haulage due to the improved road networks across the Lekki axis, while 40 per cent cargo evacuation were done by barges. This seamless cargo evacuation coupled with other developments in the port in terms of vessel’s turnaround time has made Nigeria a transshipment hub in West Africa.
Currently, most of the roads linking the port have undergone rehabilitation by Lagos and Ogun State governments. For instance, the concrete expansion of the Lekki-Epe expressway from Ajah to Eleko junction is already completed. Also, the dualisation of the Lekki-Epe road from Ibeju-Agbe to T-Junction in Epe is at 95 per cent completion stage.
Conversely, the complete upgrading of the Itokin to Ijebu-Ode expressway is completed, while the expansion of the Oke-Oso/Itokin road to Araga-Poka road is also completed. The Ijebu-Ode to Epe road has also been completed with two toll gates mounted on the road.
Meanwhile, with cargo evacuation by road out of Lekki Port, the complete construction of the new seventh axial road and the Eleko coastal road will further improve evacuation of cargo out of the port.
The Eleko coastal road is the one that directly feeds the port while the seventh Axial road is another route for the port into the hinterland and beyond.
Investigations carried out by our reporter showed that works has commenced on the Eleko coastal road with concrete pavement and expansion plans already ongoing.
With the completion of these roads, Lekki port now boosts easy access to the hinterland surrounding its location.
Truckers who spoke with Daily Sun said that with improved roads, they spend less than 20 minutes within the port to pick their cargoes and leave without any delay or have to go through rigorous procedure.
A truck driver, Ahmed Alao, said the improved road network along the port axis and its environ has changed the narrative and how cargoes are being evacuated.
“When we have jobs, we enter the port, pick the cargo within 20 minutes and you are good to go. Unlike Lagos ports where you spend hours or weeks before you pick a cargo. Here, you come in, pick your cargo without any delay and you leave. Nobody is asking you to give them anything before you leave. The service delivery is efficient.
“The roads are far better than now. Some have been completed while some are still undergoing construction. It takes less one and half hour to drive from Lekki pto Ijebu-Ode. The road is good now and no unnecessary check points that can delay you on the road. By the time all the roads linking the port are completed, it will further enhance seamless of cargo evacuation,,” he said.
He said the management of the port has a truck park that can accommodate over 170 trucks at a time and that the purpose is to ensure that truckers have easy access to in and out of the port.
Those who spoke with Daily Sun said that the completion of these roads have changed the concept of cargo evacuation at the deep seaport compared to when the port newly started operations where it relied on barges for cargo evacuation.
“At the start, it was difficult to move cargoes by road due to the terrible state of the roads around the port. Then the roads leading to the port were in terrible state. We had to rely heavily on barges to evacuate cargoes from the port, which was kind of expensive.
“But now, the roads have been completed. Cargo can now leave Lekki port through the Ijebu-Ode to Epe road, which is completed. Also, the Ikorodu-Itokin road leading to Ijebu-Ode too is completed.
“Furthermore, the concrete paving and expansion of the Lekki-Epe down to Ajah road is almost completed. This is an exciting time at Lekki Port because cargo evacuation just got easier and seamless. With these roads completed, our customers can now enjoy delivery of their cargoes at cost saving options without any stress or hassle,” the insider said.
According to the insider, the number of cargo leaving Lekki by road have been on the rise in the last few months since these roads were completed, adding that the port now do 60 per cent road evacuation of cargoes compared to 40 per cent barge evacuation.
“More roads are still being constructed and we expect the percentage of evacuation to improve as these roads get completed. Mobilisation towards the complete repair of the Eleko Coastal road has commenced. The road is being done in phases. Once completed, it will finally open Lekki Port to the outside world.
“We also hope work begins on the new seventh Axial road. Nothing has been done on this route yet, but when done, it will provide options for the port as regards movement of cargoes into the hinterland. With the seventh Axial road, cargoes can completely cut-off the Eleko junction while navigating into the hinterland of Ijebu-Itele and beyond.
“The seventh Axial road is a 50 kilometers road that runs directly from the Eleko coastal road. It has no business with the Lekki-Epe expressway and goes straight into Ijebu-Itele and Ogbere area.We hope works starts soon on this new 50 kilometre road,” he added.