The CMA CGM Group has secured an agreement with Lekki Port LFTZ Enterprise to operate Nigeria’s next newest container terminal at Lekki Port after its completion at the end of 2020.
As Nigeria’s first deep-sea port and Sub-Saharan Africa’s deepest port, Lekki Port is a strategic choice for the development of CMA CGM’s operations in Africa’s largest economy and West Africa’s first consumer market.
LPLE, a joint venture enterprise led by the Tolaram Group, the Lagos State Government and the Nigerian Ports Authority, will develop, build and operate the port.
As the container terminal operator, CMA CGM, through its subsidiary CMA Terminals, will be responsible for marketing, operations and maintenance of the container terminal at Lekki Deep Sea Port.
Lekki port will have two container berths and will be Nigeria’s first deep-sea port.
Navin Nahata, Chief Executive Officer of Lekki Port LFTZ Enterprise, said: “We are excited about this development because CMA Terminals is a world class port operator and can be relied upon to provide international port standard delivery services at par with most modern ports around the world to the Nigerian port customers.”
Read about how ports and terminals are facing unprecedented challenges in 'Mega-Alliance Impact', a technical paper by global shipping analyst Neil Davidson from Drewry
The choice of Lekki Port, which will aid the reduction of congestion in the port of Lagos, is fully in line with the CMA CGM Group’s development in the region. Lekki Port’s container terminal will allow the Group to develop its presence into West Africa’s first consumer market and will serve as a transshipment hub, especially to neighbouring countries like Togo and Benin.
Upon completion, the container terminal will be equipped with a 1,200-meter-long quay as well as 13 quay cranes and will have a capacity of 2.5 million TEUs.
With its 16-meter depth, it will allow the Group to deploy ships with a capacity of up to 14,000 TEUs.
Farid T. Salem, Executive Officer of the CMA CGM Group, stated: “Thanks to its position and capacity, Lekki Port will allow us to bring to Nigeria larger container ships from Europe and Asia to better serve our customers and pursue our commitment to the development of the entire region.
“With CMA CGM’s unique service offering and expertise combined with our logistics and inland services, our presence in Lekki Port will benefit the entire Nigerian supply chain and market as well as neighboring countries.”
