By lduozee Paul, Benin Correspondent
The chairman, managing director of AMES-Edo Inland Dry Port, Charles Akhigbe, has assured Utekon community in Ovia North Local Government Area, that when the company commences the construction of a dry port project in the district, it would help create more employment opportunities for indigenes of the community.
Akhigbe who is also a consultant to the Edo State government made the statement when members of the Edo State Shippers’ Association, officials of the state government and other stakeholders visited the locality to inform the Odionwere and elders of the community on plans to commence work on the building of a dry port in the land allocated to them by the Edo government.
According to Akhighe, the team visitedthe community to let the elders and Odionwere know that very soon work will starton the dry port. He begged the elders to support them to ensure there is peace,security and cooperation during the building of the dry port.
The engineer said when the projectstarts it would bring massive employment to indigenes of the area.
According to Akhighe, apart from engagingthe youths of the community, the projectwill attract more investment and development to the locality.
“We came to tell you that theproject to be sited in your area is about to start. We are starting by clearingthe land. The project will bring economic and social benefits to thecommunity.lt will bring mass employment. We guide and advise state government onhow the project will be. We are doing this to allow anybody that wants to partnerwith us knows. At the end of it we give feedback to the government”.
The MD of AMES said, development on everyactivity that had been going on they often informed the state government about ,stressing that the dry port project willopen great opportunities for indigenesof the locality to work.
He assured them that very soon, theproject will kick- off, adding that a monthly report concerning the process ofthe project is being written and submitted to the government.
While introducing the elders of theUtekon community to the guests, the community lesion officer, Uyi Ogbebor, toldthe elders of Utekon locality that the essence of the visit is to seek theblessing of the elders before work commences, explaining that the stategovernment sent them to come andcommence the project.
In his response, the Odionere ofUtekon community, elder Ogiewonyilsehiren, begged the stakeholders to use theyouths in the to work. He said the community has graduates and non- graduatesthat can work with them, stressing that doing so especially in the area ofsecurity, will help facilitate the quick completion of the project.
Remarking on the visit, Pa. MichaelOsayi, Asagbonrioba Onawuje and Mustapha Bello, appealed to the stakeholders tostart work before the raining season so that the youths in the community canwork. They thanked the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare 11, Governor Godwin Obaseki,the state government and other critical stakeholders to the project, forbringing the project in their community.
