Nigeria’s Minister at the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, Chief Adegboyega Oyetola, has presented the revalidated licence for Deep Sea Port in Ondo State to Governor, Dr. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State in southwestern Nigeria.
Speaking at the ceremony in Abuja, Dr. Aiyedatiwa, said that the proposed Ondo Deep Sea Port would function as a major hub for international trade, serving not only Ondo State, but the entire country and some West African nations.
According to the statement by Prince Ebenezer Adeniyan, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Ondo State, the licence for the port, originally approved in 2023 by former President Muhammadu Buhari had been submitted to the Federal Government for revalidation following some errors in the document.
It stated that Governor Aiyedatiwa thanked the Federal Government for fastracking the process of the revalidation and that the sate government was ready to get the project started as it will serve as hub for international trade.
It added that Governor Aiyedatiwa told journalists during the ceremony that such infrastructure cannot be restricted to state-level use, describing it as a gateway to international operations and businesses, and indicating its capacity to support industry, commerce and the economy as a whole.\
The Governor explained that the deep sea port is designed to accommodate businesses across Nigeria and the neighbouring West African countries, noting that it has a natural draught of about 18 metres.
According to him, the depth would allow very large vessels, larger than those currently operating in Lagos ports, to berth with ease.
Governor Aiyedatiwa also said that the size of the port would eliminate the need for trans-shipment, as vessels would be able to sail directly into Ondo State waters.
He noted that the project will have a positive impact on Nigeria’s economy and that its benefits will not be limited to cargo movement alone.
GIK/APA