Babatunde Mukaila (National Secretary, ANLCA)
We have mother ports in the South with sizable capacity. Consequently, Inland Dry Ports that are to be located in the south have the mother ports to contend with. It is my belief understandably, that this has impacted on the attention level of IDP’s in the South.
Muhammed Sani Bala (AMATO Chieftain)
The Kano and Kaduna Inland Dry Ports are receiving maximum attention probably because the demand by shippers in the North to get their imports delivered closer to them through Kano and Kaduna Inland Dry Ports is higher than those of their Southern counterparts. Secondly, the presence and utilization of Southern sea ports by the Southern shippers in landing their consignments could be a decisive factor in the reason Inland Dry Ports are not receiving maximum attention in the South.
Francis Omotosho (Acting Secretary General of NAGAFF)
The concept of Inland Container Depots (ICD) or Inland Dry Port (IDP) is meant to serve the land-lock areas or states without water front terminals or mother ports. So it is wrong to build ICDs in the South, because they have seaports and waterfront terminals. Absolutely, there is no need for ICD in the Southern part of Nigeria. However, the North has dry land-lock states where there is no water at all, so they need dry ports to serve them as a terminal interchange point from South to North.
Evang. Leonard Ogamba (President SALS)
The question is that are the Inland Dry Ports working? I know that Rome is not built in a day. It is commendable that they have started, but the government cannot do it overnight. The infrastructure is already on ground, but the next line of action is to ensure there is a rail interface that will give shippers access to the IDPs. There should also be electricity, scanning machines and other necessary facilities before we say we have an IDP.
Frank Obiekezie (National Secretary, AREFFN)
It is not different from other projects being implemented under this current government. The current government does not show much seriousness concerning issues in the South. The fact remains that if they are to develop Inland Dry Ports, common and business sense may require that those of them far away from the seaports should be given priority, because that is where they are urgently required. The cost of handling goods closer to the seaports cannot be compared to those handling goods far away from the seaports.
Kunle Ajayi (Trucker)
The North is given priority as a result of the interest of the government on the capital base in the North. The reason they are being neglected down south is because there is nothing much going on here. We have more consuming products in the South unlike when we have more projects going in the North. Since Dangote Refinery finished their project, the Container traffic in the South has reduced. Running diesel from Lagos to the North is not a thing any trucker would want to embark on considering the wear and tear of the truck and the distance. They should encourage the rail system because that is the best way to transport cargoes to long distances.
Festus Ukwu (National Secretary, NCMDLCA)
Well, everything in Nigeria is politics. In the south we have several sea ports, but in the North they don’t have any seaport. Some of these Inland Container Depots are being used and for you to get there, you have to go through the rail. It is politically motivated. I know of many people in the South trying to push for their own Inland Dry Port, but it has not been a success.
Clinton Okoro (APFFLON PRO, Tin Can Chapter)
It is the power that be, that wanted everything to be shifted to the North. You would observe that we have been crying for Eastern port for a very long time now. There are some waters surrounding the South Eastern areas and the government has refused to pay attention to those areas, where they can dredge and develop. Majority of almost 85 percent of importation is coming from the Eastern part. Lagos is overpopulated. The Port Harcourt, Warri, Calabar and the Onitsha river port should be developed to decongest the highly concentrated ports in Lagos.
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