Contractors handling the development of the deep seaport under construction in Badagry, Lagos, are mobilizing to site within the next few days, Akinwunmi Ambode, the state governor, has disclosed.
Ambode made the disclosure at a meeting with journalist at his office in Ikeja at the weekend. He said the seaport, along with the expansion of the Lagos-Badagry Expressway to ten lanes with light rail system on the median, would open up the Badagry axis, and turn it into a hub for commerce and tourism, in what he believes would shore up the gross domestic product (GDP) of Lagos and create jobs on a large scale for the people.
The seaport which is being jointly developed by the Federal and Lagos state governments, is also a measure to decongest Apapa which presently hosts two ports- Tincan and Apapa ports. It would upon completion accommodate the high volume of cargo generated through international maritime trade and enable Nigeria attain the status of a maritime hub for west and Central Africa.
It would also accommodate dry docking facilities for super tanker vessels which offer low cost access to both offshore oil/gas fields, in addition to the numerous employment opportunities and related support services it is envisaged to attract. It would further be a multi-purpose port which accommodates large and heavy laden vessels. Ambode said when both sea ports come onstream, they would ease the unyielding congestion currently crippling and degrading Apapa.
He also pledged that his government would give more effect to the implementation of the inter-modal transportation system being planned to spread transport beyond just roads, to waterways and rail, as part of efforts to de-congest Lagos and make life easier for its millions of residents.
The governor further revealed plans to cut cost of governance by merging agencies which tended to overlap in their functions. Along thses lines, he said the ministry of rural development had been outrightly abolished and replaced with the ministry of wealth and job creation.
“We will be more efficient in tax collection and at the same time reduce cost of administration,” the governor said, adding however, that the administration would not impose new taxes, but extend the tax net to ensure that more taxable adults living and doing business in Lagos are harnessed.
Meanwhile, in addition to abolishing the Ministry of Rural Development, the governor has also scrapped the Parastatals Monitoring Office, Political and Legislative Powers Bureau, Debt Management Office and Office of Special Adviser on Taxation and Revenue. Ambode in the executive order No. EO/AA 01 of 2015, directed the Head of Service, Folasade Jaji to effect necessary realignment of office allocation and redistribution of human resources in line with the new structure.
Inter- governmental relations was slashed from what was Ministry of Tourism and Intergovernmental Relations and allocated to Special Duties, to become the Ministry of Special Duties and Inter- governmental Relations. The government also merged the Office of Works and that of Infrastructure as well as the Office of Drainage Services and Office of Environmental Services.
