Badagry Deepsea Port Viable Owing To Huge Economic Potentials, says Badagry Chamber of Commerce Boss.

Badagry Deepsea Port Viable Owing To Huge Economic Potentials, says Badagry Chamber of Commerce Boss

By Izuchukwu Ozoemen

The proposed deepsea port in Badagry will thrive because the area has a lot of economic potentials to support it.

Mr Yahaya Oladiran Idris, retired Controller of Customs and President, Badagry Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, revealed this during a two-day retreat for the Executives of the Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria (MARAN).

With the huge investment opportunities and vibrant infrastructure in Lagos State, he observed, Badagry is fully ready for the proposed deep seaport because it is the superhighway to ECOWAS and Europe.
Badagry, he explained, houses Seme Border, the most significant border post in Nigeria, which enjoys good intermodal transportation systems including good waterways and the Lagos-Sokoto Expressway which is a transhipment route to landlocked countries of Niger Republic and Chad.

“We are fully aware of the economic viabilities of Badagry. It is a superhighway to ECOWAS and Europe and the home of the most significant border post in Nigeria. Majority of Nigerian cargo stemmed down at ports in Benin Republic and Togo Republic will be dropped at Badagry Deep Seaport. The port will serve as a transhipment hub for landlocked countries of Niger Republic and Chad.”

“Badagry has a good waterway. It makes it easier to come to Badagry and down to Benin Republic through the lagoon. As a matter of fact, the port will lead to a considerable reduction in smuggling, if not by zero percent but at least by 20% when completed,” Idris argued.

He urged the Federal, Lagos State Government and promoters of the port to come to agree and resolve the grey areas hindering the construction so as to attract more investors to Badagry while providing job opportunities for artisans and vendors.

“As a chamber, we are expecting the construction of the port to start in 2025. We are enjoining the government, the promoters and landowners to talk and settle the grey areas in the port agreement. The port will add to the growth of Badagry,” he assured.

On whether there is a need for another deep seaport at Badagry since there is one in Lekki, Yahaya described the Badagry deepsea port as desirable considering the massive market in Lagos. The promoters, he continued, must have done their feasibility study before proposing the establishment of the port in Badagry.

On the land border closure to vehicles, Deputy Controller Yahaya said Nigeria’s border is too porous and too laborious to manage considering its vastness. The country is losing a lot of revenue to vehicle smugglers who take advantage of this closure, he regretted.
This being the case, he stated, the major casualties are officers and men of the Nigeria Customs Service who lose their lives while chasing smugglers in the forest.
He advised the federal government to open up the borders for vehicles to prevent revenue loss and unwarranted death of officers and men of the Nigeria Customs Service.

He said that trade facilitation is a collective responsibility among importers, customs agents, the Customs and other agencies involved in free-flow of cargo in and out of the port.

“Trade can be facilitated when importers are honest with their consignments. Lack of transparency brings about multiple debit notes everywhere. Trade facilitation starts from importers, agents and me.”

“Also, NAFDAC and SON treating the same products delays trade facilitation. Government has to intervene and delineate functions of these agencies properly. Above all, some goods need reclassification.”

The Badagry Chamber of Commerce President commended the present management of the Nigeria Customs Service led by Comptroller General of Customs Adewale Adeniyi for making the welfare of officers and men a priority.

“Comptroller General Adewale Adeniyi has done well in terms of promotion of staff. Officers and men will be happy when they get their promotions regularly, and CGC Adeniyi has not failed in this area”, he concluded.