The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Gelegele Seaport

  • Edo Seaport project:  Ijaw group says state sitting on a time bomb

    Ijaws in Edo state have slammed the state government’s handling of the multibillion-naira Gelegele Seaport in the state, accusing Governor Godwin Obaseki of perpetuating “modern day apartheid system” that only favours the Edo-speaking people.

    They accused the state government of completely shutting out their traditional rulers and the Ijaw people from the project, and handed him a 21-day ultimatum to reverse it or face “explosion of the time bomb.”

    The Ijaw in Edo State Emancipation Movement, which gave the warning on Tuesday, said it would not fold its hands and “watch this brazen oppression of the Ijaws of Gelegele community in Olodiama and other kingdoms.

    “There is a ticking time bomb that is about to explode in Edo state and it seems the constructors are too eager and ever ready to detonate it,” IESEM stated in a statement by John Keniwenimowei and David Ebipamojo, Coordinator and Spokespersons respectively.

    Read Also:http://staging.thenationonlineng.net/gelegele-seaport-edo-navy-strengthen-ties-deliver-project/

    The statement expressed displeasure at alleged noncompliance with universal best practice of carrying out Environmental Impact Assessment and shutting out of their kinsmen, even as it accused Governor Godwin Obaseki of doing the bidding of the Oba of Benin to the detriment of the Ijaws.

    “The Edo state government is expected to acquaint itself and make available to all stakeholders especially regards to monumental projects which impacts on the physical location, livelihood of millions, flora and fauna and the complete environment of the Niger Delta.”

    The IESEM rejected the composition of the committee for the project, which included only an Ijaw indigene and stressed that “There must be public participation in planning and decision making.”

    “The delicate nature of the location of the site of the Gelegelegbene Seaport makes it imperative for the Edo state government to release the EIA report to the general public.

    “The right issues of the host communities must adequately be addressed also,” the statement added.

    While accusing Governor Obaseki of tribal agenda, stressing, “You (Obaseki) have made mockery and denigrated the exalted office of the Governor of Edo State by being an ethnic champion.

    “Your Excellency, the Ijaws of Edo state had expected at least the minimum from you, based on your manifesto and vast experience in governance, but our hopes are now dashed because of the continuation of the injustices you inherited from your predecessors.”

    The IESEM urged the Federal Government and well-meaning Nigerians to hold the Oba of Benin and the state government responsible for a breakdown of law and order resulting from the handling of the Gelegele sea project.

  • China Harbour intensifies work on Gelegele Seaport

     

    …Edo Govt. sees record time delivery of project

     

    The Edo State Government has said that efforts to industrialise the state is gaining momentum as China Harbour Engineering Company Limited intensifies work on the development of the Gelegele Seaport in Benin City.

    Special Adviser to the Edo State Governor on Media and Communication Strategy, Mr. Crusoe Osagie, said “we are excited at the pace of work on the project. We foresee the delivery of this project well ahead of the scheduled delivery date.

    “Our partner, China Harbour Engineering Company Limited is living up to its billing as its personnel have been on ground for over about two months now. They have been working round the clock doing soil testing, ground mapping, following the aerial survey they did immediately they arrived Benin City, to ascertain the positioning of the facility in line with best environmental practice.

    “A visit to the site showed some de-watering, excavation and land reclamation work and the Project Execution Plan revealed that the Seaport will be delivered well ahead of the scheduled date of delivery.”

    Osagie added: “Governor Obaseki is in a hurry to transform Edo State into a state with solid industrial base. A lot of work is ongoing in the background to ensure that these projects are delivered in record time. It is not his style to create a buzz around projects.

    He further said: “The Edo Fertiliser and Chemical Company came on stream without any media hype until it was commissioned. The first phase of the Edo- Azura Power project was delivered in same manner and we are looking forward to receiving the first ship that will berth at the Gelegele Seaport. It will be a landmark event that will change the face of the state’s economy forever.”

    The governor’s Aide assured that with a functional port in Gelegele, Edo people and residents in the state will start enjoying the benefits of exporting and importing their goods to and from Europe/America, respectively.

    “We foresee the establishment of allied businesses such as tank farms, private dry ports and others, that by default go with seaports,” he added.

    China Harbour in January, began the execution of the project with an in-depth assessment of the Gelegele Seaport Report submitted by the Engr. Greg Ero-led Technical Committee on the Actualisation of the seaport, to the state government.

    The company with over 90 branches and operating in about 100 countries across the world commenced operations in 1994, is handling various projects in Nigeria including Calabar, Warri ports and most recently, the $1billion Lekki Deep Seaport.

    Read Also: Gelegele Seaport: Edo, Navy strengthen ties to deliver project

  • Chinese firm set to develop Inland Container Depot in Edo

    Chinese firm set to develop Inland Container Depot in Edo

    A Chinese firm, China Harbour Engineering Company (Nig.) Ltd, has indicated its readiness to go into partnership with Atlantique Marine Engineering Services, Edo Inland Container Depot,  known as AMES-Edo ICD on export.

    Mr Jason Wang, who led a seven-man delegation of the firm to the state on the invitation of Edo Government, dropped the hint on Friday in Benin.

    Wang and his team also visited the Gelegele seaport, the operational base of the AMES-Edo Inland Container Depot to assess the work done so far.

    Wang said he was impressed and that his firm would look at possible ways of collaborating and partnering with AMES-Edo to drive the project to its earliest conclusion and begin full operation.

    “We are impressed with the work done here so far. China Harbour Engineerng Company ( Nig.) Ltd will look at possible ways of collaboration to drive the project to its earliest conclusion,” he said.

    He said the team was in the state as a follow up to  Gov. Godwin Obaseki’s business visit to the company in China about three weeks ago where an MOU was signed by the state government and the company to develop the Gelegele Seaport.

    READ ALSO: Gelegele Seaport: China Harbour arrives Benin, commences work on project

    Dr Charles Akhigbe, Chief Executive Officer ( CEO ) of Atlantique Marine and Engineering Services, AMES, the promoters of the AMES-Edo inland container depot, said the organisation was confident that the proposed inland container depot would reduce the cost of export of agricultural produce and increase government’s GDP.

    Akhigbe disclosed that the port was just three steps from final approval for full operations to commence.

    He said  the project would create not less than 3,000 jobs for youths and provide the platform for exchange of knowledge between government and foreign investors.

    He also said that the container depot would emerge as the pioneer full-fledged inland container depot in Southern Nigeria to commence operation and would immediately serve the need of haulage services.

    According to Wang, the company has already commenced negotiation with the Federal Government to build modern railway lines as a primary mode for long distance haulage of cargo, noting that 75 per cent of Nigeria’s total export passed through Edo.

    “Discussion is ongoing with the Nigeria Railway Corporation to use BOT PPP mode to construct 110km short spur line from Agbor to Edo inland container depot.

    “For now the inland container depot will operate 100 per cent by road but in the next 6-10 years, 40 per cent will go by road while 60 per cent will be by rail.

    “The phases one and two of the inland container depot would accommodate 12, 000 units of 40ft TEUs and 8,000 units of 40ft TEUs with a maximum of 25,000 TEUs at any given time,” he said.

    Meanwhile, the Senior Special Assistant to the Edo Governor on Business Bureau, Mr. Edward Osayande, said the governor was committed to industrialising the state by encouraging public private partnership.

    He said the inland container depot was the central plank of the state government’s effort at creating jobs through industrialisation.

    He also stressed the need to bring the Gelegele Seaport, AMES-Edo inland container depot and Edo Industrial Park together to drive development in the state.

    NAN

  • Gelegele Seaport: Obaseki signs MoU with China Harbour

    Gelegele Seaport: Obaseki signs MoU with China Harbour

    The Governor of Edo State, Mr Godwin Obaseki, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with China Harbour Engineering Company Limited (CHEC), for the development of the Gelegele Seaport and other transport infrastructure in the state.

    The landmark event which held in China today, will see China Harbour Engineering Company, the biggest infrastructure company in China, with a robust portfolio covering the broad infrastructure spectrum, lead the development of the seaport that will serve as the gateway for exporting manufactured goods from the Benin Industrial Park under construction and other manufacturing companies in the region.

    The MoU signing is the result of series of engagements between Governor Obaseki and the Chairman of China Harbor Engineering Company (CHEC), Mr Lin Yichong, which started last year.

    Some of the projects the Chinese company is handling include the construction-dredging/ excavation for waterfront development in Yanbu, southwest Saudi Arabia and on the northern shore of the Red Sea as well as the Lagos moles repair project, being executed by the Nigeria Port Authority.

    Others are the Offshore Approach Light Structure in New Doha International Airport, which includes three terminal bridges and three temporary steel bridges and the Ma’aden Infrastructure Project Port Design and Construction, owned by the Saudi Arabian Mining Company, amongst others.

    Earlier, the governor was at the Nigerian Embassy in China to discuss his developmental plans for Edo State with officials of the Nigerian Mission in the Asian country and sought areas of collaboration.

  • Gelegele Seaport: Obaseki insists on project

    Gelegele Seaport: Obaseki insists on project

    The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has said there was no going back on the Gelegele Seaport project in the state, assuring that the rule of law, peace and order will be maintained in the state as government pursues its programmes and policies.

    Obaseki said this when elders and leaders of thought from the five Ijaw clans in the state under the aegis of the Ijaw National Congress, Edo State, paid a courtesy call to the governor at the Government House, in Benin City.

    Obaseki maintained that there is nothing greater than peace in any community, as it is under such condition that developmental goals of any society, state or nation are attained.

    Noting that he was committed to the Gelegele Seaport project, he said his administration will ensure peace in the state to attract development to the people, especially the most disadvantaged in the state.

    “Without the rule of law, peace and order in the state, none of us will have progress; none of us will realize our vision. We all should embrace peace to move the state forward in terms of development,” he said.

    He noted that though disagreements are expected as one makes progress in life, the role of leadership or government is to resolve the issues that cause disagreement or differences in an amicable way and avert chaos.

    “If we as a people have built structures to foster development, most of the issues that have led to the agitation of the past few months will not have occurred in the first place. The core issue is that of development, access to good quality life,” he stressed.

    Obaseki said the focus of his administration is to create an enabling environment for development that will make life meaningful for the Edo people, adding, “my priority is to move development to every part of Edo State, make life meaningful and worth living for the citizens of the state. I am determined to ensure that I increase the pace of development in the most disadvantaged areas in the state.”

    Earlier, the leader of the Ijaw group, Rev. Christopher Dime, whose speech was delivered by Mr. Edmund Doyah-Tiemo, complained of their marginalization and oppression over the years. He stressed that the Ijaws are in three local government council in the state and this has hampered their progress as a people.

    He expressed appreciation to Governor Obaseki and lauded his efforts to open up the area inhabited by the Ijaws, especially through the proposed Gelegele seaport and assured of their full support.

  • No going back on Gelegele Seaport project – Edo govt

    No going back on Gelegele Seaport project – Edo govt

    The Edo State Government has assured the people of the state that work on the Gelegele Seaport is in progress as there is sufficient economic justification for its development.

    Speaking to journalists on the socio-economic gains of the planned seaport, Governor Godwin Obaseki explained that it would serve as an agro-processing zone and will be driven by the state government and the private sector.

    Reacting to the rejection of a motion on the establishment of the seaport, sponsored by Honourable Ehiozuwa Johnson Agbonayinma in the House of Representatives, Obaseki said Gelegele seaport will serve as an export processing zone, and added that the appropriate agencies are already being consulted.

    “For me, I don’t understand what was being attempted or what the issues are at the House of Representatives. We never designed a Port that requires such a motion to be moved on the floor of the National Assembly. I must add that we are ready to work with all organs of government to realise this project as it will impact greatly on the economy of the state and region,” the governor said.

    He explained that the seaport will be located where there is enough gas that can be used to generate electricity and power industries.

    “There is sufficient economic justification for the Gelegele port and we will raise funds from the private sector to develop the facility. We do not believe that the federal government will stop or discourage Edo State from building a Port that is economically viable,” he added.

    Obaseki said the seaport is on course as his administration is talking to consultants who are currently working on the designs and conducting studies on water depth, the width of the river and the amount of dredging needed.

    He assured Edo people that a lot is being done to make the project a reality within the shortest and realistic time possible.