By Valentine Amanze
The Edo State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, has awarded a N6.8 billion contract for the dualisation of Ekehuan Road and construction of underground drainage system on Uwadiae Street.
The measure is to provide infrastructure to fast-track the development of the Benin River project and accelerate sustainable development in the state.
The contract was awarded during an Executive Council (EXCO) meeting held before the governor proceeded on his annual leave, recently.
The project was awarded at a cost of N6,812955739.70.
On completion, it will “enhance the state government’s desire to transform Benin into a modern city and serve as a booster to the development of the Benin River Port,” a document on the contract stated.
The Benin River Port is one of the big-ticket projects of the Governor Godwin Obaseki-led administration in the state aimed to drive industrialisation and boost export earnings.
The port project, which is being developed in partnership with China Harbour Engineering Company Limited (CHEC), would serve as a conduit for products to be manufactured at the Benin Industrial and Enterprise Park; Benin Auto Park; Benin Production Centres and other industrial clusters across the state.
Preliminary work on the project has been completed by the Chinese company, even as the Federal Government has approved for a Marine Police Post at the site of the port project. It will also serve as a sister port to the Lekki Deep Sea Port being developed by CHEC.
Residents in Ekehuan Road and Uwadiae commended the governor for the projects and noted that the projects would reduce traffic logjam and curb flooding. The project follows closely behind the award of contracts for the construction of Textile Mill Road; Iyoba, Iyobanosa and Omozogie streets; Benin-Abraka Road; St. Saviour, Oba-Obazagbon, PZ-Okabere roads and Ugbor-Amagba road, which was hailed by Benin City residents.