Nigeria’s first ocean terminal coming

Matthew Otoijagha

Nigeria may soon get its first ocean terminal that will facilitate oil and gas trade. The terminal will be in Akwa Ibom State, where its promoters have acquired 245 hectares, of waterfront land for the project.

The terminal is expected to help investors in the shipping of oil and gas vessels.

Such vessels cannot berth at the regular ports and related terminals because of their depth. The coming of the ocean terminal will enhance Nigeria’s status in the maritime world. The multi-billion dollars offshore maritime infrastructure was conceived 10 years ago in conjunction with some Nigerian/Akwa Ibom professionals and foreign maritime experts.

To facilitate its birth, its promoters, Port Notel, have asked Akwa Ibom State Governor Udom Emmanuel to grant them a Certificate-of-Occupancy (C-of-O) for the land at Ntafre Community. It is believed that the C-of-O will be proof of the government’s commitment to partner with the private sector on development.

Port Notel Limited (PNL) Manging Director, Victor Akpanika said such partnership will turn the country into a major regional maritime hub with a vibrant shipping cluster and trans-shipment mode capable of servicing the various continents.

He said the involvement of more private investors in the state would do it good in the short and long run. Akpanika spoke when a delegation of Ibeno leaders visited the governor. Akpanika said Nigeria’s maritime domain was large enough to accommodate many players, especially when it is considered as the gateway to West and Central Africa.According to him, the country’s economic strength lies in its ability to freely transport goods by sea, but owing to its deficiency in facilities, it is unable to interface with the global maritime marketplace.

He said: “Nigeria currently has sufficient maritime market demand space that is very attractive to port developers, operators, financiers seeking to invest in port terminal and jetty facilities.  Several littoral and hinterland states are pushing themselves forward to attract local and foreign investors to come and invest in ocean, coastal, river or inland dry port facilities.

The governor said the Ibom Deep Seaport has gone far with the technical procurement processes completed, adding that the Port Notel project is still at its early planning development phase.

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