By Our Correspondent
A deal for the development of a river port in Gelegele, Benin City has been struck by Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, with a Chinese company, China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC), where he hopes to attract up to 30 percent of the cargo traffic in Lagos ports.
After months of intense engagements on the viability of a seaport in Benin City, Obaseki, signed the agreement with Li Yi, vice president of CHEC.
Also signed are the final investment agreement to develop the Benin Industrial Park with CHEC as well as the pact to develop a modular refinery in the state.
The harvest of investment agreements by the Edo State government on the sidelines of the2018 Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), further consolidates the existing relationship between China and Edo State and expands the scope of business opportunities for both parties.
Speaking to journalists at the Nigerian Embassy in Beijing, China, after signing the investment agreement on the development of the Benin River Port, a visibly elated Governor Obaseki, said the deal includes the building of a port on the Benin River, dredging of the river which is a channel of about 40 kilometres, and the construction of a link road to the Benin bye-pass.
He explained that the Benin River when completed, will link the Lekki Deep Seaport, help decongest the ports in Lagos State, open up Edo State to the international market by serving as a platform for import and export trade.
“The company we are working with is the largest investor in the Lekki Deep Seaport. The Benin River Port is going to be a sister port to the Lekki Deep Sea Port. We expect that up to 30 per cent cargo going to the Lekki Deep Seaport would be meant for Benin port,” he said.
He added that the construction of the Benin River Port would also provide opportunities to export agricultural and manufactured products being produced in the state. “We are investing massively on agriculture particularly in areas like oil palm, rubber, cassava, fruits and all range of agricultural produce which need to be processed and exported outside the country.
“There are companies operating in the state and are seeking to export their products. The port will provide opportunity not only to export agricultural produce but also some of the products that are now being manufactured in our area,” Obaseki added.
“Another advantage is that once you create the infrastructure, there is the possibility that other industries would spring up in the state. This opportunity is going to rapidly help in diversifying the economy of Nigeria,” he explained.
The Benin Industrial Park is expected to create over 170,000 direct and indirect jobs on completion, and will be home to over 1000 companies and will generate an excess of over $3 billion annually.
Before departing Benin City for China, Obaseki approved the release of N700 million for the Benin Refinery project, as part of her contribution to the project. With the latest agreement with Peiyang Chemical Equipment Company of China (PCC) in China, the coast is clear for the commencement of work on the modular refinery project.
According to Obaseki, his administration’s investment drive in China and elsewhere, was conceived to steer the state away from dependence on oil and set it on the path of prosperity anchored on a solid industrial base.
“We are excited about the Modular Refinery project and the project is going to transform the state’s economy and position us as a hub for fabrication of refinery parts with the setting up of fabrication yard to groom local capacity in that sector,” the governor said.