Mota-Engil Acquires $200m Equipment for Benin Port Project

Gilbert Ekugbe

Mota-Engil Nigeria Limited has said that it invested over $200 million in construction equipment for the Benin Port project.

The move is coming on the heels of its recent delivery of over 200 heavy duty machinery for the construction of the Kano-Maradi railway line.

The Logistics Manager, Mota-Engil Nigeria Limited, Mr. Nuno Colaço, who led the company’s team to inspect the new equipment at the PTML terminal in Lagos, said with the recent addition, the company now boasts of the most modern fleet of equipment in the construction industry in Nigeria and would be deployed to its ever growing number of project sites to ensure timely and quality delivery.

This latest acquisition coincides with the company’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, Mr. 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.

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.