The Oyo State and South-West Shippers’ Associations has assured that the much expected Ibadan Inland Container Depot (ICD) will be kick-starting by May 2011.
The president of the association Dr Ayo Omotosho gave this assurance recently and said that major constructions at the sight have since been completed, these according to him includes the stacking bays including the allotted building for customs officers and other government agencies who will be working at the container depot.
Omotosho also added that in order to ensure the smooth running of the ICD, the rail line connecting Lagos to Ibadan is currently undergoing rehabilitation. He however said that the major challenge facing the project is the need to construct the rail sideline to link Ibadan with the ICD depot in Erunmu, a suburb of Ibadan.
According to him, the project is very dear to the hearts of both Gov. Adebayo Alao-Akala as well as the State Commissioner for Commerce and Co-operatives, Dr Kola Balogun.
Similar inland container sites have already been concessioned in Jos, Kano, Isiala-Ngwa (Abia) and Container Freight Stations (CFS) in Maiduguri and Funtua under the build, own, operate and transfer (BOOT) agreement which simply means various concessionaires of the ICDs would operate for between 25 to 30 years and then transfer the structures to government.
Omotosho said that the Ibadan ICD concessionaires: Catamaran Logistics Ltd is also warming up to join the league as it is currently working toward ensuring that operations at the ICD site commence unfailingly by May 2011.
He also expressed optimism that the project will provide more jobs for the people of Oyo state in particular and the nation at large, adding that the federal, state and local governments would also benefit in terms of revenues.
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