French container shipping giant CMA CGM and Lekki Port LFTZ Enterprise have signed a Memorandum of Agreement to operate Lekki Port’s future container terminal.
CMA CGM, through its subsidiary CMA Terminals, will be responsible for marketing, operations and maintenance of the container terminal at Nigeria’s Lekki Deep Sea Port, which will have 2 container berths once completed in 2020.
Lekki Port will aid the reduction of congestion in the port of Lagos. The company said that the latest move is fully in line with the CMA CGM Group’s development in the region.
The container terminal will allow the group to develop its presence into West Africa’s first consumer market and will serve as a transshipment hub, especially to neighboring countries like Togo and Benin.
Upon completion, the container terminal will be equipped with a 1,200-meter-long quay as well as 13 quay cranes and will have a capacity of 2.5 million TEUs. With its 16-meter depth, it will allow the group to deploy ships with a capacity of up to 14,000 TEUs.
“As Nigeria’s first deep sea port, Lekki Port represents a strategic choice for the CMA CGM Group. Thanks to its position and capacity, Lekki Port will allow us to bring to Nigeria larger container ships from Europe and Asia to better serve our customers and pursue our commitment to the development of the entire region,” Farid T. Salem, Executive Officer of the CMA CGM Group, said.
The future Lekki Deep Sea Port will be developed, built and operated by LPLE, a joint venture enterprise led by the Tolaram Group, the Lagos State Government and the Nigerian Ports Authority.
The Federal Government of Nigeria recently pledged its total support to the Lekki Port project during the official flag-off ceremony by President Muhammadu Buhari who was represented by Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo.
—WORLD MARITIME NEWS
