China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation has been faced with sanctions by the federal government for breaching its agreement to provide 85% of the cost of a rail project. During the inspection of the Lekki Deep Seaport on Saturday in Lagos, the minister of transportation, Mu’azu Sambo, said this.
The projects, according to Sambo, include the rail lines connecting Kano and Kaduna and Maiduguri and Port-Harcourt. The construction company has until October 30 to comply, according to the government. He said he gave the CCECC a deadline of October 30; if he does not get that money on the ground by then, he knows what to advise Mr. President to do. He added that the CCECC has not brought anything to the table.
Sambo, who expressed satisfaction with the Lekki Deep Seaport project, pointed out that efforts were being made to guarantee the cargo’s safe and orderly evacuation from the port. He added that the government was looking into it and that barges would take care of it in the medium term while the road was being widened in the meantime. Sambo asked the port’s administration to hire as many Nigerians as possible because this was the only way for people to provide for their families. Mohammed Bello-Koko, the managing director of the Nigerian Ports Authority, earlier remarked that one of the initial ideas to lessen traffic at Apapa and TinCan was the Lekki Deep Seaport.
Bello-Koko believes that the automation installed at the port is excellent since it will allow for processes to be carried out without interruption from humans. He asserted that the Apapa and TinCan ports will continue to be functional and said that they have created alternatives for importers and exporters to choose from when deciding where to conduct business. Also speaking, Mr. Du Ruogang, the managing director of Lekki Port, stated that the port was 95% complete and that they would fulfill the deadline.
Ruogang praised the NPA for setting up marine services such as tugs, pilots, lines, boats, and harbor masters before the start of port operations.
