President Bola Tinubu has directed the speedy completion of all the uncompleted Inland Dry Ports across the country, to enhance commerce, international business and create job opportunities to Nigerians.
Tinubu gave the order at the inauguration of the Inland Dry Port, in Funtua, Katsina state on Thursday.
The president, who was represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Sen. George Akume, said that the inland dry ports would assist in the diversification of the economy, in line with his Renewed Hope Agenda.
He directed the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, and the Nigerian Shippers’ Council to ensure the full utilisation of the dry ports, with a view to decongesting the sea ports and enhancing the ease of doing international business.
Tinubu said that the inauguration of the Funtau inland dry port was a step forward for the Nigerian economy development.
He said that infrastructure would also go a long way in creating job opportunities for the people in that part of the country.
The president said that the Federal Government had embarked on massive rehabilitation of roads, to facilitate movement of goods from seaports to the dry ports located in the hinterlands.
He, therefore, urged the Katsina State Government and the host community to consider the facility as a national asset by safeguarding it, for the benefit of the country in general.
In his remarks, the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Mr Adegboyega Oyetola, said that Funtua Inland Dry Port was among the six dry ports that were approved by the government, and completed by the present administration.
Oyetola said that it would assist to facilitate trade with Niger Republic, Chad and other sister African countries.
He, therefore, urged all the stakeholders to take the advantage of the port by patronising it.
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary, Nigerian Shippers/ Council, Mr Pius Akutah, said that with the utilisation of the facility, people would begin to see greater volume of trade in the region.
Akutah assured that the council would ensure that the dry port’s management conduct activities in accordance with the laid down laws.
Earlier, the Chairman, Funtua Inland Dry Port, Alhaji Umaru Mutallab, said that it would assist to facilitate economic development in the area and the country in general.
Mutallab said that it would open a lot of prospects and opportunities to the entire North-West zone, as lot of people would come to the town to work.
He thanked the Federal Government for the completion of the project, which would also improve the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the state government.
Also speaking, Gov. Dikko Radda of Katsina State thanked the Federal Government for citing the project in Funtua.
Radda urged the Federal Government to rehabilitate the rail lines from Zaria to Funtua, for seamless transportation of goods from seaports to the area.
He also urged it to rehabilitate the moribund textile industry, to assist in creating more job opportunities.
