Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State says there is the need for urgent diversification of the nation’s economy.
The Edo State Governor said this in Benin City during a courtesy visit by the Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Bashir Jamoh.
The Governor noted that the Benin River Port project is critical and strategic to Nigeria’s economy, adding that the State Government is willing to partner with NIMASA to bring the project to reality.
Responding, the Director General of NIMASA restated the Agency’s commitment to human capacity development as the basic catalyst to grow the maritime sector in Nigeria.
He commended the Edo State Government for the Benin River Port project, which he said, would be a revenue booster for the state even as Kano, Plateau and Gombe states have invested hugely in Inland Dry Port development, despite not being littoral states.
“Edo state is a nexus for Nigeria hence the strategic role the Benin River port would play in the transportation of goods to other parts of the country. You can connect the east and west from Edo within two hours so that means in six hours goods from Apapa in Lagos will be everywhere in the country.” Dr. Jamoh said.
“We are locating this port in a place that is perhaps Nigeria’s largest and richest onshore gas reserve. You can imagine that this energy exists to drive whatever amount of industrialization that needs to be.” He added.
He expressed the Agency’s readiness to sponsor indigenes of Edo State who are below 25 years of age to Greece on fully-funded scholarship to study Maritime related courses.
L–R: Director-General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Bashir Jamoh; Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, Chairman, Nigerian Ship Owners Forum, Mrs. Margaret Orakwusi; and Special Assistant to the DG, NIMASA, on Communications and Strategy, Mr. Ubong Essien, during a courtesy visit by members of the NIMASA management team to Edo State Government House, Benin City.
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