Benin port promises Edo indigenes employment

The Chairman of the Benin Port Project, Greg Ogbeifun, has assured that the 10 Edo indigenes undergoing studies under the Nigerian Seafarers Development programme scholarship scheme will be engaged as pioneer staff of the Benin Port.

In a statement on Monday, Ogbeifun, said the 10 indigenes were making progress in their studies.

He noted that a major advantage of the Port Project was the opportunity it presented to build local capacity of Edo youths to participate actively in the maritime sector.

He said, “I can assure that the 10 Edo indigenes undergoing studies under the Nigerian Seafarers Development programme scholarship scheme will be engaged as pioneer staff of the Benin Port.

“The young Edo indigenes are part of other Nigerian students on fully funded scholarships in Greece and India by Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency studying maritime related courses.”

The port project was jointly being executed by the Edo State Government and the Federal Government through the Nigeria Port Authority, it stated.

The Minister of Transportation had set up the Project Steering Committee and Project Delivery Team to ensure realisation of the Benin Port Project under a Public-Private Partnership arrangement, as already approved by the Federal Government of Nigeria through the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission.

The port is a legacy project of the Governor Godwin Obaseki-led administration, which aims to contribute to the development of both the maritime and agricultural sectors, creating massive employment opportunities.

The project site is located at the confluence of Osse River and Benin River, making it the closest port to the sea after the ports of Lagos, at only 32km from the coastline, the statement said.