Lekki Freeport Terminal (LFT), the container terminal operator of the Lekki Deep Seaport, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and other regulatory agencies have assured shippers of a faster turnaround time of good clearance at the port.
LFT stated that it will take between five to 10 days for shippers to clear their goods from the deep seaport, which is the fastest compared to what is currently obtainable in existing ports across the country.
This was disclosed at a media parley attended by representatives of all the regulators at the port, including the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA), NCS, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Nigeria Police Force (NPF), and Department of State Services (DSS), who pledged their support and cooperation to the success of the port.
Chief Commercial Officer, LFT, Kehinde Olubi-Neye, explained that the project’s promoters have made significant investments in the automation of the processes to ensure that the needless delays associated with existing ports are drastically reduced. According to him, the automation process at the port is linked to the automated gate to allow for a vehicle booking system where truck drivers are required to book appointments in advance.
He revealed that the port has completed the construction of a truck park with the capacity to accommodate 150 trucks at a time.
Also speaking, Chief Operating Officer of Lekki Port, Laurence Smith, noted that the port project remains a watershed in the history of maritime in Nigeria, which can be compared to Dubai, urging stakeholders, including the media, to continue to lend their support by promoting it. The Assistant Controller, NCS, Joseph Ephraim, said the agency is ready to provide the much-needed support by conducting the necessary checks before the evacuation of cargo at the port. Ephraim reiterated the agency’s commitment to collaborating and cooperating with other regulatory agencies to ensure and guarantee the timely evacuation of cargo at the port.
On his part, the representative of the Managing Director of the Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA), Ikechukwu Onyemachara, said the authority was proud to be associated with the project while assuring the Lekki port team of its unwavering commitment to supporting the project.
The Executive Director, Lekki Port LFTZ Enterprise Limited (LPLEL), Adesuwa Ladoja, described the deep seaport as a project of pride not only for the promoters but also for the government and the people of Nigeria.
