Benin Dry Port Gets Federal Government Approval
By Victor Ofure Osehobo
The Atlantique Marine Engineering Services (AMES)/ Edo Inland Dry Port otherwise known as AMES-Edo has secured
Federal Government of Nigeria approval for a port of origin and destination in Benin City.
Dr Charles Akhigbe, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of AMES-Edo disclosed this on Wednesday, and said that with the approval, the Benin dry port will soon commence agriculturist exports.
According to him, the port valued at about N7billion will create about 5000 jobs adding “when operational shippers and industrialists will have no business going to Lagos as their goods will be transported by their agents through the inland port.
“One of the advantage why an inland dry port is important is that, shippers and industrialists absolutely do not have to come to Lagos any more, it is the responsibilities of the freight forwarders and the shippers, it is their responsibility to bring the containers inland through whatever inter-modal means they chose, maybe by sea, road or rail.
“Now because we know Edo state does not have a rail link but we know that most containers move by road, but again, there are seaports around us like the Warrior port, Koko port which is more closer to us.”
He explained that construction of the project has reached 80 percent while his firm was working with the Nigerian Shippers Council, ICRC and Federal Ministry of Transportation to ensure that the project meets its targeted time.
Akhigbe also said in preparation for the take off, AMES has gone into agreement with farmers oasis and Free On Board international logistics, to commence dedicated export warehouses, it will be processing and packaging for export a minimum of a 100 tonnes daily.
He noted that the management of the dry port expecting a visit by Executive Secretary of the Nigetian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Mr segun awolowo to come inspect the facility for zero export dedicated warehouse, before the commencement of agro export.
He explained that the dry was a first in the South South geo-political region and would serve the South South and South East geo political space.
