Grand plan to link 10 West African ports

Plans for a second seafreight service connecting 10 West African ports have taken a step forward with the raising of US$60 million for West and Central Africa Sealink Project by the Nigeria Export/Import Bank (NEXIM), with further support expected from the Economic Community of West Africa States (Ecowas). The objective of the Sealink Promotional Company (SPCL) is to create a profitable private sector company capable of delivering excellent cabotage services to West and Central Africa coastal countries on a regular and reliable scheduled service, according to the Sealink website. It will link 26 countries with a consumer base of about 440 million people and a combined GDP of over US$700 billion. A local seafreight service will boost inter-regional trade, according to NEXIM managing director Roberts Orya. At present, he says, “for you to move your goods from here (Nigeria) to Ghana, it will take you about six days by road, but for you to move your goods from the same Lagos to Ghana by sea will take you 45 to 60 days. They will first take our goods to Europe and then do a transhipment of goods to Ghana,” Orya said in an interview with Economic Confidential in Abuja. According to Orya, the service is due to start in September 2014 with multipurpose vessels designed for cargo and passengers.