Nigeria, one of Africa’s largest economies, is opening up a new seaport. the Lekki Deep Sea Port is on track to open in the spring of 2023, and it is hoped to alleviate the cargo congestion in Nigeria’s largest city, Lagos. The deep sea port will be the first major addition to the city’s coastal infrastructure in nearly 25 years, and is a major part of the Nigerian Government’s plan to revamp the coastal city in the hopes of rescuing a struggling national economy. Over the last few years, Nigeria has struggled with corruption, bureaucratic inefficiency and rising inflation, all while competing with neighboring countries for foreign investment. This port, primarily funded and built by Chinese companies, will help to bring in ever increasing revenue that has been lost due to congestion at Lagos’s current ports, and will help to build up the economies of the surround areas.
The construction of the port and further investment announced by the Nigerian government has signaled a push from the thighs echelons of the country to try and stop the bleeding and work to return the country’s economy to its prior strength. This project wouldn’t have been possible, however, without the deep involvement of numerous Chinese entities. The latest product of China’s Belt and Road Initiative, the port also signals an increase of Chinese influence in the region, both on an economic and political level. The Lekki Deep Sea port is a shining example of how China has utilized its abundant economic resources to essentially purchase influence in underdeveloped or struggling nations, primarily in Africa.
This ties back to the ideas of countries wielding different types of power in order to achieve their own ends. While the United States has settled into forms of soft power like culture and reputation, as well as military might, China has taken a more active approach and utilized its overwhelming economic power to improve its international standing.
Link to article: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-09-23/nigeria-pins-hopes-on-deep-sea-port-to-end-cargo-congestion