NPA assures of speedy approval for take-off of $1.3 bn Ondo deep seaport project
Oredola Adeola
The Ondo State Government, through the Ondo Development and Investment Promotion Agency (ONDIPA), has secured the assurance of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) to speedily approve the final request to proceed with the development of a $1.3 billion multipurpose deep seaport, dedicated to supporting transcontinental offshore oil and gas vessels.
Mohammed Bello-Koko, NPA’s Managing Director, confirmed this when he received the Full Business Case (FBC) for the Ondo Multipurpose Deep Seaport Project submitted to the Authority by Mr. Boye Oyewumi, the Ondo State Coordinator for Special Projects, on Thursday in Lagos.
EnergyDay gathered that the $1.3 billion multi-purpose deep seaport in Ondo state, located along the coast of Ondo, is expected to be funded through a Public Private Partnership(PPP) plan.
Bello-Koko, in his remark after receiving the full Business Case (FBC), said the Authority is committed to creating an enabling atmosphere for the construction of more deep seaports after Lekki Deep Seaport (which is already operational), and Badagry Deep Seaport.
The NPA’s MD, therefore, assured that the Authority will work with the Federal Ministry of Transportation and other relevant agencies to ensure all necessary final approvals are obtained quickly to enable the port to commence operations in record time.
He emphasised that the NPA Management has consistently restated its readiness to provide the requisite technical guidance and for the establishment of new ports in line with global best practices.
Mr. Boye Oyewunmi, Ondo State Coordinator for Special Projects, earlier in a statement said that the ONDIPA has secured approvals to proceed with the development of a $1.3 billion multipurpose deep seaport.
He said that the proposed port will support a variety of transcontinental cargo, including roll-on/roll-off (RORO) vessels, bulk cargoes (e.g., bitumen, silica sand, and cement), and offshore oil and gas support.
Oyewunmi said, “The project will be buoyed by the proposed 30,000 hectares Sunshine Industrial City, with 2,700 hectares approved for a free trade zone. The site is 50 km from Lagos, West Africa’s commercial center.
“The Port of Ondo offers businesses an alternative to the congested ports in Lagos State, while also providing access to inland Nigeria and neighboring countries.
Ondo State Coordinator for Special Projects, therefore, emphasised that the port project is being executed based on a modified Swiss Challenge procurement method. Feasibility studies, environmental and social impact assessment (ESIA), and the outline business case (OBC) stages of the project have been completed.
