The President of Badagry Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, Mr Yahaya Oladiran Idris has posited that the proposed deep seaport in Badagry will thrive because Badagry has a lot of economic potentials that can support it.
Idris made this known while interacting with members of the Executives of the Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria, (MARAN) during their two day retreat in preparation for the task ahead of them in the new year.
Idris, a retired Deputy Comptroller of Customs noted that with the huge investment opportunities and vibrant infrastructure in Lagos State, Badagry was fully ready for the proposed deep seaport.
According to him, “We are fully aware of the economic viabilities of Badagry. It is a superhighway to ECOWAS and Europe; and the home of the most significant border post in Nigeria”.
Majority of Nigeria’s cargo stemmed down at ports in Benin Republic and Togo Republic will be dropped at Badagry Deep Seaport. The port will serve as a trans-shipment hub for landlocked countries of Niger Republic and Chad. “Badagry has a good waterway. It makes it easier to come to Badagry and down to Benin Republic through the lagoon. As a matter of fact, the port will lead to a considerable reduction in smuggling, if not by zero percent but at least by 20 per cent when completed,” Idris said.
He maintained that the construction of the port would attract more investors to Badagry and provide job opportunities for artisans and vendors.
He called on the Federal Government, Lagos State Government and promoters of the port to come to a roundtable and resolve all the nitty gritty areas that hinder the commencement of the port construction.
“As a chamber, we are expecting the construction of the port to start in 2025.
We are enjoining the government, the promoters and landowners to talk and settle the grey areas in the port agreement. The port will add to the growth of Badagry,” he said .
Idris averred that even with Lekki port on ground, Badagry deep seaport was desirable considering the massive market of Lagos, adding that the promoters had done their feasibility study before proposing the establishment of the port in Badagry.
On the land border closure to vehicles, he said Nigeria’s border was too porous and too laborious to manage considering its vastness, noting that the country was losing a lot of revenue to vehicle smugglers who are taking advantage of this closure. According to him, the major casualties are the officers and men of the Nigeria Customs Service who have lost their lives while chasing smugglers in the forest. He advised the Federal Government to open up the borders and allow vehicles in, to avoid revenue loss and unwarranted death of officers and men of the Nigeria Customs Service.
On trade facilitation, Idris posited that it was a collective responsibility among importers, customs agents, the customs and other agencies involved in free-flow of cargo in and out of the port. According to him, trade can be facilitated when importers are honest with their consignments.
“Lack of transparency brings about multiple debit notes everywhere. Trade facilitation starts from importers, agents and me.
“Also, NAFDAC and SON treating the same products delays trade facilitation. Government has to intervene and delineate functions of these agencies properly. Above all, some goods need reclassification,” he said.
The Badagry chamber president commended the present management of the Nigeria Customs Service led by Comptroller General of Customs Adewale Adeniyi for making the welfare of officers and men a priority.
“Adeniyi has done well in terms of promotion of staff. Officers and men will be happy when they get their promotions regularly, and CGC Adeniyi has not failed in this area,” he said.
