BENIN CITY – The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has inspected the Edo Inland Dry Port in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of the state, to assess the level of progress with the port designed to accelerate socio-economic transformation of the state.
He said his administration will create the enabling environment for the port to operate and thrive, adding, “this is a viable and landmark project that needs patience, determination and a lot of conviction in achieving the set goals. I congratulate you on the job done so far in achieving the dream of Inland Dry Port in Edo State.”
He noted that the state government would leverage the agricultural benefits of the project, noting, “We have a database of farmers in the state. We will encourage them to produce more since they will benefit from the Dry Port project.
“I am here to see for myself and have a mental picture of what we are trying to achieve. The role of government is to create a peaceful atmosphere and enabling environment for businesses to thrive in the state.”
Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Atlantique Marine and Engineering Services Ltd (AMES), Engr. Charles Akhigbe, said when completed, the port will take 20,000 containers at any time.
“Edo State can export 56 million kg of agricultural products monthly and the state will make N70 million monthly from the operations at the port,” he said.
He said the Inland Dry Port is focused on job creation, noting “the feasibility and viability study on the project is optimistic. It will create 30,000 jobs in the next three years.”
Akhigbe said the project would drive agricultural development, noting, “We would be an aggregation point as an agrarian state. This project will encourage agriculture, especially when we start exporting. Arrangement has been made for a 40-tonne cargo plane to land at the Benin Airport to off-take agricultural products. We would be packaging products to meet international standards.”
