Greg Ogbeifun, the Chairman of the Benin Port Project, has given an assurance that the ten Edo indigenes who are currently studying under the Nigerian Seafarers Development programme scholarship scheme will be employed as the first set of staff for the Benin Port. In a statement released on Monday, Ogbeifun expressed satisfaction with the progress made by the ten individuals in their studies. He emphasized that one of the major benefits of the Port Project is the potential to enhance the capacity of Edo youth to actively participate in the maritime industry.

According to him, "I can guarantee that the ten Edo natives who are currently studying under the Nigerian Seafarers Development programme scholarship scheme will be employed as the first set of staff for the Benin Port."

"The youth from Edo state are among a group of Nigerian students who are currently studying maritime-related courses in Greece and India under fully-funded scholarships provided by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency," 

As indicated, the Benin Port Project was a collaborative effort between the Edo State Government and the Federal Government, with the Nigeria Port Authority also involved. To bring the project to fruition through a public-private partnership, the Minister of Transportation had established a Project Steering Committee and a Project Delivery Team, as authorized by the Federal Government of Nigeria through the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission.

According to the statement, the port represents a legacy initiative of the Governor Godwin Obaseki-led administration, which seeks to enhance the advancement of both the agricultural and maritime sectors, leading to the creation of numerous job prospects. The site of the project is situated at the convergence point of Osse River and Benin River, rendering it the nearest port to the ocean after Lagos ports, at a distance of just 32km from the coastline.