WE WANT TO INVEST IN EDO ... CHINESE COUNSEL TELLS OSHIOMOLE

BENIN—AS a follow-up to President Muhammadu Buhari’s recent visit to China, the Chinese Consul-General in Nigeria, Mr. Liu Khan, has visited Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State to explore the investment potentials in the state and locate more Chinese industries there. 

Governor Oshiomhole has strengthened diplomatic relations with China with a view to deepening investment ties with the people and government of China. Receiving the Chinese Consul-General in his office, Oshiomhole thanked him for leading a delegation of investors to the state. He said: “Let me thank you, Mr. Khan, for leading a delegation to pay us a visit. 

They, along with other Chinese companies, have set up various factories in Edo State. I have visited their factories and I am very impressed by what I saw, the quality of products they are producing,

ceramic tiles and iron rods which we badly need for our construction industry. “They shared with me their plans to further expand their operations. I have discussed with them about the possibility of establishing new investments in Edo State because we have so much natural resources besides oil and gas which we have in sufficient quantity. 

Edo State actually has the highest deposit in the volume of gas deposits. So, with such huge gas reserve, this state will continue to play a very important role in the economy of our country. “Under the power arrangement, I also know that this state is meant to be one of the major hubs for power supply and distribution. 

Recently, a private company, Azura Power Plant, has commenced the process of laying about 450 megawatts of power which will be completed in the next one or two years, and the construction is still on. “There are other power plants that are already in existence. And so, in the very near future, we will have enough power supply coming from Edo State. I know that from my conversation with some Chinese companies here, they told me that with power, they have so much more they can do.”