A view shows cranes and a container ship at the newly-commissioned Lekki Deep Sea Port in Lagos
A view shows cranes and a container ship at the newly-commissioned Lekki Deep Sea Port in Lagos, Nigeria, January 23, 2023. Reuters

Nigeria opened a billion-dollar Chinese-built deep seaport in Lagos on Monday, which is expected to ease congestion at the country's ports and help it become an African hub for transshipment, handling cargoes in transit for other destinations.

President Muhammadu Buhari has made building infrastructure a key pillar of his government's economic policy, and hopes that this will help his ruling party win votes during next month's presidential election.

The new Lekki Deep Sea Port is 75% owned by the China Harbour Engineering Company and Tolaram group, with the balance shared between the Lagos state government and the Nigerian Ports Authority.

"This is a transformative project, game changer project. This project could create at least 200,000 jobs," Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria Cui Jianchun told Reuters after the port was commissioned by Buhari.

China is among the largest bilateral lenders to Nigeria and has funded rail, roads and power stations.

(Writing by MacDonald Dzirutwe; Editing by Jan Harvey)

A view shows the newly-commissioned Lekki Deep Sea Port in Lagos
A view shows the newly-commissioned Lekki Deep Sea Port in Lagos, Nigeria, January 23, 2023. Reuters
Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari cuts a ribbon during the commissioning of the Lekki Deep Sea Port in Lagos
Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari cuts a ribbon during the commissioning of the Lekki Deep Sea Port in Lagos, Nigeria, January 23, 2023. Reuters