Governor of Plateau State, Joan David Jang has expressed the state’s interest in buying into the concession agreement between the federal government and Duncan Maritime Service Limited as a means of fast tracking the Jos Inland Container Depot.
Speaking at the sensitization seminar on the delay in the commencement of the ICD projects in the country last week, the Governor noted that Plateau state has done all that is required of it as a host state and that the government and the Plateau people are eager to see the project become functional.
Jang who was represented at the function by the Permanent Secretary in the Plateau State Ministry of Commerce and Industries, Boris Dashe further pointed out that the government is willing to enter into discussions with the Concessionaire to ensure the speedy completion and operation of the Jos ICD project.
“We are willing to discuss with the Concessionaire; Messrs Duncan Maritime Services Limited on the need for Plateau State government to participate in the project by way of equity participation to ensure the urgent actualisation of the project”, he stressed.
The seriousness of the state government can not be over-emphasized and that is why they have met all that is required of them according to the concession agreement. He said: “On our part, the Plateau State government has fulfilled its obligation on the project by providing land with existing administrative structure free of all Encumbrances, sponsoring the Sod turning event, dualization of the access road to the site and lifting of the embargo to approve the project site plan.”
While commending the Nigerian Shippers’ Council for being able to mobilize participants to the workshop despite the security challenges in the state, the governor said the seminar would create the right scenario for participants to discuss the various challenges impinging the implementation of Dry ports in the country.
On his part, the Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of NSC, Captain Adamu Audu Biu, in a keynote address said the establishment of the ICD projects in the country was aimed at alleviating the many problems faced by Nigerian Shippers’ in the hinterland in the cause of shipment of their import/export consignments.
Bui noted that this is as a result of the long distance between the seaports and the location of their businesses.
The NSC boss who was represented by the Director in charge of Inland Transport Services of the NSC, R.K. Sanusi, pointed out that the ICD projects is “meant to bring shipping, ports and related services closer to the door step of cargo owners, as well as help in eliminating the frequent incidents of congestion at the seaports which results in the imposition of some avoidable cost on Nigerian importers and exporters.”
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