Monarch restates case for Badagry
Port

Unrelenting in his campaign for the
establishment of a modern seaport in
Badagry, Lagos State, a traditional ruler,
Oba Sejiro Olalekan Ogungbe James, has
again sounded a clarion call for the
actualization of the project.

The youthful first-class royal father, the
Aholu Henwa Okiki Arologbade II of
Kweme Kingdom, whose domain
encompasses Nigeria’s border with the
immediate neighbor to the west, Benin
Republic, was emphatic that Badagry is
overdue for a modern port.
“I have said it severally at various fora.
And I will continue to campaign for it,
until the dream is actualized. Badagry
needs a modern port. Nigeria needs a
modern port in Badagry urgently”, James
told Ships & Ports journalists in his
palace, on the sidelines of the
celebration of his third year on the
throne.

Tracing what he described as Badagry’s
critical roles in the socio-economic
development of Nigeria, James noted
that these were hinged on the maritime
trade.
“While we recollect with misgivings the
role of Badagry in the shipment of slaves
to Europe and the Americas, we,
however, proudly acknowledge the
important part Badagry played in
ushering Christianity into Nigeria”, the
monarch, who is the Vice-Chairman,
Council of Obas, Badagry West Local
Government Area, said.

He went on: “Badagry, as a port, helped
facilitate the siting of the first storey
building in Nigeria in the town. The
maritime endowments of Badagry
facilitated the arrival of the missionaries
who brought the first Holy Bible in
Nigeria. Even as Badagry facilitated the
ignomious trans-Atlantic slave trade, on
the positive side, Badagry was the
landing port for a large number of
returnee former slaves”.
Badagry, according to him, over the
years has not lost the many advantages
as a veritable maritime industry location.
“Badagry is now more than ever
abundantly qualified to have an
economically-viable port, considering the
on-going expansion of the Badagry
Expressway”, James said, adding: “Siting
a modern port in Badagry would totally
eliminate the perennial congestion at
the existing Lagos ports.

Source: www.shipsandports.org/detailmorenews.php?id=31

I am in agreement with this suggestion by the monarch.

Lagos needs to be decongested and the opportunities spread across all regions of the state.

I believe that the opening of a modern seaport with help compete with the Benin port provided Government creates incentives for importers using the port.

Economically Lagos will be better off for it considering the 10 lanes road and rail projects currently going on to help open up Bagagry.

I have been to Badagry several times and agree is one part of Lagos that is in urgent need of economic activities considering its historical role in the development of Lagos and Nigeria as a whole.

I hope the right people see sense with the monarch.

....whats this local monarch ranting about!there are already enough sea ports in Lagos,he wants to create another heaven for street urchins(Alaye boys),who will always depend on extorted money from hard working business men.

Austine.E:
....whats this local monarch ranting about!there are already enough sea ports in Lagos,he wants to create another heaven for street urchins(Alaye boys),who will always depend on extorted money from hard working business men.

I disagree with you here...Have you thought about the direct and indirect job opportunities the new port if actualized will create for Nigerians?

The benefits of such projects far outweighs the demerits.