NPA and Edo State Collaborate to Dredge River Channel for Benin Port Project with 300,000 TEU Capacity.
The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the Edo State Government are collaborating to dredge a river channel to link the Benin Port to the sea, as part of efforts to actualize the Benin Port Project.
Investors have been invited to commence the project under a Design, Build, Finance, Operate, Maintain and Transfer (DBFOMT) model, according to the Request for Qualification document published by the parties involved.
The project aims to enhance national water transportation capacity and develop a multi-purpose port capable of handling container and general cargo. The site of the proposed port is located in Ovia North-East Local Government Area (LGA) of Edo State, approximately 50 kilometers from Benin City.
The Edo State Government and NPA are responsible for delivering an encumbrance-free project site, dredging and maintaining the river channel, constructing an access road, and facilitating all necessary approvals.
The project has been certified by the Federal Government of Nigeria as eligible for a PPP, and the Edo State Government and NPA will act as counterparts for the PPP. The port will have a capacity of 300,000 TEUs per annum, equipped with cargo handling, stevedoring, warehousing, and delivery capabilities. Plans to develop an Agro-Industrial Park adjacent to the Benin Port in the future have also been disclosed.
