With the emergence of Mota Engil Africa as the preferred bidder for the Benin Port Project in Edo State, south-south Nigeria, optimism among investors and residents has risen, given the prospects of having a vibrant port in Edo State.
Prior to the resuscitation of the Benin Port project after 75 years, Nigerians from all walks of life have canvassed the opening up of more ports in the country to engender equitable distribution of national growth and employment creation.
The 300,000 Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit (TEU) Benin Port is meant to reactivate the pre-colonial trade route through the Benin and Osse Rivers, which was where the Portuguese first had contact with the Benin Kingdom in 1472 AD.
“We are now set for the commencement of this landmark project, which will open a new vista of opportunities for Edo people and Nigerians in general,” Godwin Obaseki, Edo State governor, said.
Edo State, south-south and by extension, Nigeria, will benefit starting from the constructional level down to the operational point. There will be a boost in the local economy, job opportunities for people with different educational levels and this will suppress part of unemployment issues.
“Our preliminary findings showed that the Edo Port Project will create over 200,000 direct and indirect jobs, for skilled and unskilled workers,” an analyst, who is familiar with maritime projects but wanted anonymity, said.
Specifically, those whose labour will be required include artisans, bricklayers, contractors, plumbers, engineers, transporters, among others.
Also at the operational level; clearing and forwarding agents, customs personnel and other security agencies will be required, the analyst added.
Nigeria’s foreign trade data show that the ports in Lagos State, Nigeria’s commercial capital, continue to dominate Nigeria’s foreign trade transactions.
According to the National Bureau of Statistics, the ports in Lagos State were responsible for 97 percent of Nigeria’s export trade in the first three months of 2023, just as the same ports accounted for 80 percent of import trade during the same period.
What the above implies is that out of 100 items exported in the first three months of 2023, 97 items left through the ports in Lagos while out of 100 items brought into this country during the same period, 80 came in through Lagos ports, showing the level of inactivity in other ports in the country, a trend the Edo State Government wants to change with the Benin Port Project.
The emerging economic opportunities in Edo and south-south sub region, lend credence to the ambitious legacy Godwin Obaseki wants to leave for Edo State and the nation as a whole.
According to findings, the port project would catalyse the growth of agriculture, manufacturing, real estate, foreign trade, automotive power, food processing, among others in Nigeria.
The keenly contested bidding processes saw Mota- Engil Africa from Portugal emerged as the winner, displacing other maritime giants such as the Yilport Holding Inc. from Turkey, and the China Harbour Engineering Company.
Mota Engil Africa is currently the project manager for the Kano-Maradi rail project and recently took receipt of $200 million worth of equipment, demonstrating its ability to complete large-scale projects.
Findings by the Nigerian Observer have shown that with Edo State becoming Nigeria’s investment hub for local and foreign investors, the competitiveness of the businesses in the state will be further enhanced with the presence of a vibrant port.
The sequence of the project followed the successful attraction of multi-millions dollars’ worth of investments in addition to the heavyweights such as Okomu Oil and Presco, both of which made combined gross earnings amounting to N120 billion at the end of 2022.
The new investments in the state include the Edo Modular Refinery, Decklar Resources Inc., Millennium Oil & Gas Company Limited, DUPORT Midstream Company Limited, Amo Farm Poultry Processing Plant, Fayus Oil Palm Company, Prime Agro Seed, and Ossiomo Power Plant, further emphasising the need for port services in the state.
The comprehensive plan unveiled by the government of Godwin Obaseki-led administration in Edo indicates that the Benin Port is intended to be a special agro-based port in Nigeria with independent, clean, and renewable energy installations for industrial processing and export of agricultural produce and other goods.
Among other commercial activities that would result from the port operations, the container and multipurpose terminals of the port would also feature RoRo facilities to facilitate direct importation of vehicles for the flourishing automotive industry in Edo State.
Meanwhile, some residents have called for increased investment in road infrastructure in the form of expansion of current roads around the port, especially Upper Ekehuan Road via Gelegele as well as the construction of new ones to avoid the repeat of chaos being witnessed in Apapa, Lagos State, daily.
“The road leading to the port site is in need of urgent attention, otherwise, the port project will be inaccessible,” Osagie Omohimwen, an indigene of Gelegele, said.
