Mota-Engil Receives Another Equipment, Prepares For Benin Port Construction

Construction giant, Mota-Engil Nigeria, has taken delivery of another set of equipment as it prepares for the construction of Benin Port, Edo state.

The equipment which were delivered through the Port and Terminal Multiservice Limited (PTML), was part of the investment of $200million investment in the acquisition of construction equipment.

Speaking to journalists, the Logistics manager, Nuno Colaço, who led the company’s team to inspect the new equipment at the PTML terminal in Lagos reiterated Mota-Engil’s commitment to the country.

Collaco said the company now boasts of the most modern fleet of equipment in the construction industry in Nigeria, saying the equipment would be deployed to its ever growing number of project sites to ensure timely and quality delivery.

This latest acquisition coincides with Mota-Engil’s emergence as the preferred bidder for the Benin Port Project which has been described as the most ambitious legacy project of the Edo State governor, Godwin Obaseki.

Chairman of the Benin Port Project, Dr. Greg Ogbeifun, confirmed at the weekend that the preferred bidder, Mota Engil Nigeria, emerged after a rigorous evaluation exercise conducted on the bids received in response to the Request for Proposals, from three pre-qualified bidders.

The Benin Port is designed to be a unique agro-based Port in Nigeria that encompasses a complete smart Port Community Complex for industrial processing and export of agricultural produce and other goods, with independent, clean and renewable energy installations.

The container and multipurpose terminals of the port will also have RoRo facilities to enable direct importation of vehicles for the thriving automobile industry in Edo State, among other commercial activities that would spring from the port operations.

While reacting to Mota-Engil’s emergence, Governor Obaseki said it was delightful that the project has finally kicked off in earnest to serve as a launch pad for the expansion of Edo’s $11.8 billion economy, noting that it would catalyze the growth of the agriculture, real estate, manufacturing, food processing, automotive, power, retail and extractive sectors.

“We are now set for the commencement of this landmark project, which will open a new vista of opportunities for Edo people and Nigerians in general,” he noted.

Also earlier this week, the Federal Government requested Mota-Engil Nigeria to procure Compressed National Gas (CNG) and Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) as against Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU) engines for the Kano-Maradi rail line Rolling Stock for more environmentally-friendly operations.

While acknowledging the fact that it may not have been in the original agreement and will attract additional cost, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Transportation, Dr. Magdalene Ajani, while signing the Agreement on behalf of the Federal Government pointed out that it was the right way to go in checking the harmful effect of global warming.

According to her, the federal government decided to award the contract for the procurement of the Rolling Stock to the company at this time in order to ensure a seamless transition from construction to operational phase upon the completion of construction of the Kano – Maradi Rail line in a few years’ time.

The managing director, Mota-Engil Nigeria, Pedro Pereira, assured the Permanent Secretary that the request for a more environmentally-friendly energy source will be considered and complied with accordingly.