Godwin Obaseki, the Edo State Governor, yesterday signed an agreement with the Vice President of China Harbor Engineering Company (CHEC), Li Yi, for the development of the Benin River Port in Gelegele area of Nigeria.
During the yesterday’s ceremony at the Nigerian Embassy in Beijing, China, the parties also inked the final investment arrangement to develop the Benin Industrial Park as well as a pact to develop a modular refinery in the state.
After signing the investment document, Governor Obaseki said that this contract includes the building of a port on the Benin River, the river dredging operations including about 40 kilometers of waterway, and the construction of a link road to the Benin bypass.
“ 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 ,” said Obaseki.
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.
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.