The Kano State Government and the Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC) have set December 2020 as deadline for the actualization of the Dala Inland Dry Port.
Recall that stakeholders have expressed worry about the slow pace of work on some of the Inland Dry Ports (IDPs) in the six geo-political zones of the country as a result of paucity of funds.
However, speaking at the NSC office in Lagos on Friday, the Governor of Kano state, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje stated that the state is ready to start taking delivery of cargoes at the Dala Dry Port before the end of 2020.
“The Dala Inland Dry Port has since its conception in the last 20 years faced varying challenges but the efforts of Bello have been its life saver.
“The Kano State Government under my watch appreciates the economic importance of the inland dry port project to the socioeconomic well-being of my people and we are fully committed to facilitate and support its actualisation,” he said.
Ganduje who commended the Nigerian Shippers Council for the initiative in promoting the establishment of Inland Dry Ports to make shipping services available to those in the hinterland, stated that the Inland Port in the state will facilitate efficient handling of both import and export cargoes.
While assuring that the government shall exploit all the opportunities offered by the facility to aggressively grow its exports to boost Nigerians foreign exchange in addition to growing Kano States Internally generated revenue.
While disclosing that the government had provided 200 hectares of virgin land free of encumbrances that is required for the two integrated projects of the Inland Dry Port and the Special Economic Zone, Ganduje also said the state government has also provided critical infrastructure required for the project, such as construction of standard dual carriage access road to the project site; Provision of Power and Water to the site and other essential support service both for marketing the project and promoting and obtaining support from appropriate quotas particularly regulatory agencies like NSC, NPA, Nigeria Customs Service, ICRC, Nigerian Railway Corporation including the Shipping lines.
He noted that Dala Inland Dry Port Project has been a forerunner in the drive for the establishment of Inland Ports in Nigeria and as such deserves the project.
He stressed that the establishment of Kano Inland Dry Port will not just boost the economy, but also of great importance to both neighbouring states in Nigeria and the neighbouring landlocked neighbours states of Niger Republic, Chad, Northern Cameroon and the rest of Sahel Africa up to Mauritania.
Ganduje however urged NSC to ensure that the Ministry of Transportation declares the Dala Dry Port as a port of origin and destination, while also seeking that the council will follow up with the Nigerian Railway Corporation for the integration of rail to the dry port; and as well ensure cooperation and collaboration between the Shipping lines and their Agents With the Inland Port to allow seamless flow of both import and export cargoes.
Speaking earlier the Executive Secretary of NSC; Mr. Hassan Bello informed that the Kano state government has already shown commitment by spending about N2.4billion on the access road to the terminal which is 50% completed.
He noted that the perimeter fencing was being done, while electricity, water and many other amenities were provided at the dry port.
“It is not by our size or our population, it is how far we have gone to bring infrastructure, industries and productions in our various states for the benefit of Nigerians.
“The Free Trade Agreement is the largest single market accounting for about $4 trillion in spending and investment across 54 countries; it will cover 1.2 billion people in Africa, and over $3 billion in gross domestic product.
“By 2050, it will expand the economy of Africa to $29 trillion, and boost intra African trade which is currently at 18 per cent to 52 per cent.
“In Europe, the trade amongst themselves is 70 per cent; in North America it is 49 per cent; while in Asia they have 35 per cent. But in Africa, we have only 18 per cent.
The NSC boss said that he hoped that the Ministry of Transportation, through the Federal Executive Council (FEC), would approve the inland port by December, laying the foundation for a significant port in modern Nigeria.
He noted that the Dala Inland Dry Port would be directly under the supervision of the NSC and that it would be a port with electronic gate, 24-hours operation, with multi-modal approach to cargo delivery.
Meanwhile, the Governor later toured Ports & Cargo Handling Services Limited at Tin Can Island port. He was accompanied by the Executive Secretary of Shippers Council
The company said that, the aim of the visit was to assess the terminal’s operations and also discuss partnership opportunities between the Group and Kano state. He was warmly received by the terminal’s management team.
