Nigeria witnessed a significant moment in its maritime history as the nation welcomed its first transshipment vessel in decades, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has revealed on its Twitter handle.
According to the NPA, “On June 29, at approximately 1 p.m., Lekki Port proudly received cargoes from two of the largest container shipping lines globally: CMA-CGM and Maersk. This momentous occasion marked a turning point for Nigeria’s shipping industry and demonstrated the country’s readiness to reclaim its status as a vital player in the maritime sector.”
Among the vessels, the NPA stated that the CMA-CGM ship stood out, carrying an impressive load of 411 Twenty-foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) of transshipment cargo bound for Cotonou. The vessel is scheduled to set sail on July 6, 2023, carrying Nigeria’s aspirations for a prosperous maritime future.
“The successful navigation of these vessels to the Lekki Port was made possible by the recent acquisition of 80-ton bollard pull tug boats by the @NigerianPorts. These robust tug boats have been instrumental in facilitating seamless port operations along the Lekki Port corridor, ensuring efficient handling of maritime activities,” NPA stated.
The NPA further stated that with the establishment of new deep seaports across the country, Nigeria is now poised to emerge as the maritime logistics hub in the sub-region, reclaiming its position in handling transit and transshipment cargoes for neighboring landlocked countries.
“This further reaffirms the Management’s commitment to expanding the frontiers of business and becoming the maritime logistics hub for sustainable port services in the subregion,” the NPA noted.
