As informed views start to favour the proposed Olokola Deep Seaport, Ondo State as a more strategic alternative to the cancelled Badagry Deep Seaport, top stakeholder in the Nigerian shipping sector and Managing Director Victory Energy Resources Limited, Otunba Sola Olatunji has said that the Olokola Deep Seaport comes on stream, to create not less that a million jobs.
Otunba Olatunji, who spoke recently to the press in Lagos, said the project would be a major catalyst to the economy that the direct and indirect jobs it will create will be in excess of one million, even as it would earn the country over $9 billion annually.
It will be recalled that the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) recently cancelled the proposed Badagry Deep Seaport over alleged discrepancies in the consultant report.
According to Otunba Olatunji, another selling point for the Olokola Deep Seaport apart from its taking away the Lagos gridlock is its over nine meters natural draught.
He said: “Deep Seaport business is all about logistics. I just mentioned to you that out of about 20 vessels that come to West Africa daily, 17 come to Nigeria.
“If this port is realized, all those vessels will come here (Olokola) for their maintenance, bunker and groceries. Do you know the implication? Do you know how much that will be accruable to Nigeria daily from that? Do you know what only Chandelling activities to these vessels will do to this economy? We are talking of transactions that are all done in foreign exchange,” he said.
The shipping expert added that the Olokola River has the longest coast and deepest draught in Nigeria hence will be able to take bigger vessels that cannot berth in Lagos and other River Ports in Nigeria.
He maintained that many ancillary services attached to the shipping will help to generate more jobs for the people as well as attract investors into the country.
“So, you will now see new businesses thriving, new markets emerging because sailors will come out from the ships to go and buy things.
“Boat operators, ancillary service providers will come and investor will put money in the business,” he stressed. He suggested that the proposed sea port be run on a Private and Public Partnership (PPP) model.
