The Executive Secretary/CEO of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), Barr Hassan Bello has given clear updates on the level of progress so far recorded by the regulator in the areas of Inland Dry Ports (IDPs) and Truck Transit Port (TTP), designed to grow inter-connectivity of modern infrastructures and facilitate trade.
In an interview, he explained that “We have the activities of the IDPs rising. One in Isiala Ngwa, Abia State, they have just signed an agreement to commence construction, which should be done immediately, and they have 18 months to do that”.
He said “If they construct a port and we examine it together with international organizations, they will be accorded a Port of Origin and Destination status which means you can consign your goods to the port from anywhere in the world. And it will be a port just like Apapa or Tin Can Island.
Explaining more on the Jos IDP, Bello revealed that “A lot of progress has been made and the only thing we are having problem with is the rail line or its rehabilitation. In Funtua, a lot of activities are taking place towards construction. So, we are seeing some progress but we want that progress to even be more and next few weeks, we shall take a holistic approach, we shall hold a meeting with the concessionaires”.
“Don’t forget theses IDPs have already been concessioned and some state governments such as, Plateau, Kaduna and Abia have supported these projects and we have to be very thankful to them. We also have one in Benin City. We are looking at it and very soon, we will take the issue to ICRC because it is a Greenfield investment, so that we know the procedure and processes.
On the Kaduna issue, he revealed that the State is constructing another road to the terminal and that goods are coming to Kaduna by rail now.
He said “Kaduna is our showcase and many people have visited. We are working with the Nigerian Railway Corporation to see the amount of goods they are bringing”.
On the state of affairs on TTP projects in parts of the country, NSC boss noted that “That is another important transport infrastructure that will add a lot of value to the economy”.
“As I have said, Ogun State government has given us land; we have two lands in Enugu and Kogi. And we are now doing the exchange of titles to the NSC. But we have also advertised for Expression of Interest to people who want to run the TTPs. We are also talking with the ICRC as usual. And on November 9, we are having a breakfast meeting with lending institutions and investors so that we will have a solid roadmap on how to go about this investment,” Bello noted.
