Vincent Toritseju
Lagos — The Lagos State government in conjunction with Westron Group last weekend commissioned a one kilometre link bridge at the Ijegun Port city, Lagos, saying that the new port will further enhance the evacuation of petroleum products from both Apapa and Tin-Can Island ports.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudasgiru Obasa, said that the State was heavily behind the developmental plan of the Ijegun Egba community.
Obasa who was represented by Olawale Suleiman, member of the State House of Assembly representing Amuwo Orogun Constituency 11, also said that the private sector initiated development was what the government ought to have done for the community adding that the government is ever ready to partner with any socially Responsible organization.
Speaking earlier, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Westron Group, Chief George Igboegwu, said that the demand for increased port services led to the development of the facility.
According to Igboegwu, Lagos warehouses about 60 percent of the nation’s petroleum product consignments and 25 percent of this is presently handled at the Ijegun port city.
He said: “Lagos, a coastal city with a population of 20million people and hosting 40 percent of nation’s manufacturing concerns, generating over 30 percent of the nation’s Gross Domestic Product, GDP, has remained the economic nerve of the country.
“Without doubt, Lagos maritime advantages largely contributed to city reaching the above phenomenal height and making it the premier city in the country over time.
“The realization of this potential led to the establishment of the Apapa port by the government. However, in the early 1970s, the demand outstripped the capacity of this facility, thereby leading to establishment of the Tin-Can Island port.
“In last couple of years, the country woke up to the realize that the galloping growth of the city, with the attendant demand, has resulted in the Tin-Can port becoming overwhelmed.
“The failure to come up with an immediate solution led to the paralysis of the area. The demand has far outstripped the capacity of this facility and the economy is haemorrhaging huge losses as a result of this.”