Badagry deep seaport on course, says lawmaker

Contrary to insinuations that the multi-billion-naira Badagry deep seaport has been abandoned, a member of the House of Representatives, Babatunde Hunpe, has said that the project is on course.

Hunpe, who represents Badagry Federal Constituency in the lower legislative chamber, spoke on the sidelines of the presentation of relief materials donated by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) to the internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Lagos.

The Badagry deep seaport project is an initiative of a consortium led by APM Terminals, Orlean Invest, Oando, Terminal Investment Ltd and Macquarie.

The proposed site of the port is located in the Gberefun area of Badagry, along the Lagos-Badagry Expressway, about 55 kilometres west of the Apapa and Tin Can Island Port complexes.

He said: “I want to assure my people that the Badagry deep seaport project is on course. When one starts a project, people expect it to come very quickly but there are processes to follow.

“It is because of these processes that the project is delayed,” he added.

Hunpe noted that the project had been discussed on the floor of the House of Representatives.

“This project has been on since 2016 and presently, the story is as it is and I have been going on with the issue.

“I met the former Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), we had a long discussion and she disclosed the level that they were, which gave the assurance that the project was coming up.

“I have also seen some steps taken by the NPA and I was able to get this because I am a member of the committee on special duties and so, I have the privilege to know what they are doing,” he said.