FG, Private Sector To Expand Koko Port

Koko Port, one of the nation’s ports that was concessioned under the government ports reform programme in 2006, is to be expanded jointly by the Federal Government and the private investor, said the Transport Minister, Mr. Idris Umar.

Umar said recently in Abuja, at the opening ceremony of the just concluded maritime seminar for judges that, beside the plan to expand the port through joint effort, the government is also planning to dredge the Calabar Port channel, just as plans have been concluded to construct breakwaters at Excravos in Delta State this year.

The minister hinted that the proposed expansion may be used as a gas terminal.

The Koko Port was concessioned to Greenleigh Ports Limited, which operated it as a fishing terminal before it was abandoned  two years later.

Umar explained that the fundamental goal of the transport sub-sector under the infrastructure component of the transformation agenda of President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan and the national Vision 20-20-20 is to transform Nigeria into a maritime hub for West and Central Africa.

The minister stressed that the development of Lekki Deep Sea Port by the Tolaram in collaboration with the Federal Government and Lagos State had since commenced, while discussions have reached advanced stage on the development of Ibaka Deep Sea Port in Akwa Ibom as well as Badagry Deep Sea Port which is to be executed under public-private partnership, adding that effort would also be made to develop Olokola Deep Sea Port in Ogun and Ondo states.

The minister said: “In the same vein, the Federal Government is carrying out massive infrastructural development and rehabilitation in our ports in Lagos, Onne, Port Harcourt and Warri.”

According to him, the rehabilitation of Lagos East and West Moles had been embarked upon and he assured that contract for the award of Calabar Port channel dredging would be warded this year, along with the construction of breakwaters at Excravos.

He also said that the development of Koko Port was sine-qua non to the realisation of the gas revolution in the country.

On rail transportation, Umar said that government is vigorously working on total rehabilitation of the existing narrow guage rail lines

“Over 90 per cent of the existing 3,505 kilometres narrow gauge line is being rehabilitated, while efforts are on in the reconstruction of the modern  Kaduna standard gauge, Itakpe-Ajaokuta Warri Standard Gauge.

“Contract for the construction of Lagos-Ibadan double track standard rail line will be awarded this year.”

He added that a number of feasibility studies would be carried out with the aim of creating corridors for the railways which include the Lagos-Abuja High Speed, East-West Line and the Coastal Rail Line.

The East-West Line runs from Onitsha- Benin-Agbo- Asaba-Onitsha-Owerri-Aba, with a spur line from Onitsha-Nnewi while the coastal line runs from Benin-Sapele Yenagoa-Uyo-Calabar. He emphasised that upon completion of the feasibility studies the construction of the line would be done under public private partnership.