Dr. Abbas Suleiman, President of the Association for Environmental Impact Assessment of Nigeria (AEIAN), has described the Lekki Deep Seaport as a strategic response to Nigeria’s long-standing maritime and coastal challenges.
Suleiman made the remark on Friday during a tour of the seaport, recalling that Nigeria’s coastline—like much of West Africa—is predominantly depositional, with sand drift from the Sahara forming natural barriers that historically limited the entry of large vessels.
The tour of the Lekki Deep Seaport and the Dangote Refinery was part of activities marking AEIAN’s ninth Annual Conference and Annual General Meeting (AGM).
According to Suleiman, the coastal morphology of the region has traditionally required extensive dredging and engineering interventions to keep ports operational.
He noted that although Lagos initially benefited from a natural harbor—a factor that influenced its naming by Portuguese explorers—the growth of global maritime trade eventually demanded infrastructure capable of accommodating increasingly larger ships.
Suleiman said several attempts dating back to 2008 were made by private investors to develop a deep-sea port and related industrial facilities in the Lekki axis, but funding constraints stalled the initiative.
He explained that renewed private sector interest around 2011, led by the Tolaram Group, enabled the project to move forward.
The AEIAN president emphasized that securing international financing for such large-scale projects required strict compliance with environmental and social safeguards, including the conduct and approval of a comprehensive Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).
“International financiers insist on EIA approval to ensure that livelihoods are protected and that potential environmental challenges are identified early, with clear mitigation measures,” he said.
Reflecting on his involvement, Suleiman said he had followed the project from inception and continued, even in retirement, to facilitate technical exposure for AEIAN members through site visits.
Addressing concerns over the perceived neglect of Nigeria’s eastern ports, including Onne and Calabar, Suleiman said the issue was driven by economic and environmental realities rather than politics.
He explained that unlike Lekki, which has a 16-metre draft, eastern ports are accessed through river channels with shallower depths—typically around 12 metres—making them less suitable for large vessels.
He added that constant situation in eastern waterways required frequent capital and maintenance dredging, a cost-intensive process that affected port competitiveness.
Suleiman clarified that the Federal Government had invested significantly in eastern port development, citing the Federal Lighter Terminal and the Federal Ocean Terminal in Onne.
He also referenced the designation of the Onne Port Complex as an Oil and Gas Free Zone aimed at attracting industry activity.
To enhance navigability, he noted that the Nigerian Ports Authority established the Lagos Channel Management Company and the Bonny Channel Company to maintain dredging operations and ensure safer vessel movements.
According to Suleiman, investments in deep-sea ports such as Lekki will significantly boost Nigeria’s trade capacity by enabling direct berthing of large vessels, reducing offshore trans-shipment and lowering associated logistics costs.
