First cargo ship arrives at Lekki Deep Seaport, which opens for business in September.

The marine vessel “Zhen Hua 28” from Shanghai, China, has arrived at the Lekki Deep Seaport in Lagos as the port’s first cargo ship.

This happened right after the port’s administration said that full operations will begin on September 22.

The management of the port announced on its Twitter account on Wednesday that construction on the project site has now impressively progressed to 91.86 percent.

The statement read: “We continue to work closely with EPC Contractor, China Harbour Engineering LFTZ Enterprise & Project Management Consultants, Louis Berger International to ensure we stay on track for start of operations by September 22.”

The Federal Government’s readiness to add Nigeria to the list of nations with deep seaports throughout the world was demonstrated by the vessel’s smooth delivery, according to Mohammed Bello-Koko, Managing Director of the Nigerian Port Authority, who spoke to press on Friday in Lagos.

According to Bello-Koko, the ship was equipped with 10 Rubber Tyred Gantries and three Super Post Panamax Ship to Shore cranes.

He added that the port was outfitted to boost Nigeria’s fortunes in the marine sector and that the delivery of the equipment was a sign of NPA readiness to step up trade facilitation.

The NPA chief said: “For us at the Nigerian Ports Authority, the coming on stream of Lekki symbolises a lot of positives. Apart from being Nigeria’s first Deep Seaport, Lekki Port will also be the first fully automated port at take-off.

“This provides an insight into the path we are already toeing as a management team to govern the operationalisation of not just the forthcoming Badagry, Ibom and Bonny Deep Seaports, but also of the reconstruction of the aged Tin-Can Port where work is set to commence once we secure the necessary approvals from the Federal Ministry of Transportation and Federal Executive Council respectively.”