The logistics industrial park as the second phase of the Lekki Port, a signature project of the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative in Nigeria, started construction on Friday.
Constructed by the China Harbor Engineering Company Ltd (CHEC), the Lekki Deep Sea Port is the largest seaport in Nigeria, and one of the biggest in West Africa. The construction of the port commenced in June 2020, and is designed to handle 1.2 million standard containers annually.
This logistics industrial park covers an area of about 40 hectares, which is equivalent to the terminal area of Lekki Port which is already completed. The logistics park is expected to be completed within two years.
"Lekki Port is situated in the Lekki Free Trade Zone. The city's layout features the port at the front, the free trade zone in the central area, and the urban area at the back. Once construction is completed, the logistics industrial park will fulfill the role of industrial distribution," said Yan Yuqing, Consul General of China in Lagos.
The project focuses on the construction of warehousing and logistics facilities such as container yards, bonded warehouses, overseas warehouses, and customs supervision warehouses. The completed logistics park will be able to store and distribute bulk commodities and provide fast and convenient customs clearance services. Additionally, the self-operated fleet owned by the logistics park is expected to meet the diverse transportation needs of various goods.
"The old port of Nigeria is very crowded, and customs clearance is often delayed. This logistics industrial park will help greatly improve the port's throughput," said Li Hui, person in charge of the construction operator of the logistics industrial park.
China helps Nigeria in building logistics industrial park of Lekki Port
The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy hospital ship "Peace Ark", which is on the Mission Harmony-2024, on Wednesday completed its week-long mission in Gabon, the eighth stop of its journey.
The "Peace Ark" arrived in the central African country on Sept 26 and started to provide free medical service for the Gabonese people since then.
Gabonese Minister of the Interior Hermann Immongault and the Chinese Ambassador to Gabon Zhou Ping were the first to board the hospital ship.
The mission has aroused the enthusiasm of the Gabonese people.
"As you know, when you see a sick person, for a mother, you can imagine the suffering. So I'm happy coming here and seeing a highly qualified doctor. You know that China is one of the oldest civilizations in the world and in terms of medicine, they are very advanced. So we are delighted to meet the doctor. The doctor saw my child and gave a diagnosis. As for the rest, we're very happy," said Moussounda Erica, a mother of a young patient.
The medical mission of the "Peace Ark" highlighted the high demand among the Gabonese people for medical care in the field of general medicine, particularly in ophthalmology, maxillofacial surgery and joint pain, which are more common among many elderly people.
I've felt the effectiveness of Chinese medicine. It doesn't just start today. I've seen their products and they've saved a lot of people. Compared to Western medicine, it's closer to African medicine," said Mimioghe Edouard, a Gabonese patient.
Both Chinese volunteers living in Gabon and Gabonese volunteers who speak French and Mandarin supported the nursing staff by helping to detect pathologies and provide appropriate care.
"This is a major mission that sends out a very strong signal. As here in Gabon, we have a lot of problems with medical cover and doctors, too. I think it's a very commendable action, which we appreciate, and I hope that in the future they will always come to help us," said Ovono Nkomo, a Gabonese doctor.
The "Peace Ark" set sail from a military port in Zhoushan in east China's Zhejiang Province in mid of June for the Mission Harmony-2024.
During the mission, the ship will visit 13 countries and provide medical service to local people. It will also make port calls to France and Greece.
This is the 10th Mission Harmony for the "Peace Ark" since its commissioning in 2008.
There are over 100 personnel on board the maritime hospital, featuring 17 clinical departments and 5 auxiliary diagnostic departments.
The "Peace Ark" is the first domestically designed and constructed standard ocean-going hospital ship in China.
This is the second time the hospital ship has docked at the port of Owendo, south of Gabon's capital city Libreville. After Gabon, it will sail for the western African country of Cameroon.
Chinese naval hospital ship "Peace Ark" completes mission in Gabon
