Bello-Koko says improved vessel dwell time at Lekki port confirms NPA’s promise

Managing Director, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Mohammed Bello-Koko, has said the improved vessel dwell time at Lekki Port was in fulfillment of the authority’s promise to deliver speedy cargo dwell time through improved efficiency at the nation’s seaports.

This is coming after Lekki port berthed the largest vessel with a 300 metres Length Over All (LOA) vessel and released the carrier the same day.

The vessel, christened CMA-CGM RABELAIS, with a capacity of 6,570 Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units (TEUs), discharged and loaded an exchange of 200 TEUs at Lekki Port. The vessel, which safely manoeuvered to berth by NPA, led by Pilot Fagbo Sayid, sailed from Shanghai in China and made brief stops at Kribi and Cotonou before landing at Lekki.

Bello-Koko, while speaking on the berthing of the commercial vessel and as well releasing it on the same day, said they would improve on the milestone.

He added that the fact that the vessel departed the country on the same day it berthed, is a fulfillment of their promise to deliver on speedy cargo dwell time through improved efficiencies and state-of-the-art machinery.

Also speaking, Managing Director, Lekki Port, Du Ruogang, said this milestone attests to the readiness of the port to become a major hub for global trade and logistics, which is evident in its capacity to receive larger vessels.

On his part, the Assistant Harbour Master for Lekki Port, Monday Gajere, said the marine equipment procured by the authority set the pace for seamless berthing of the vessel.

He explained that a thorough navigation risk assessment involving pilots, tugs and mooring gangs, was carried out to ensure optimal handling of the vessel.

Gajere said this is a demonstration of NPA’s readiness to maximise the competitive advantages that the Lekki port deep draught and state-of-the-art equipment offers, as Nigeria advances towards attaining port hub status. It would be recalled that the port received its first commercial vessel, the GSL Alice vessel, on April 6, 2023.