The Federal Government has expressed optimism that importers and exporters in Nigeria will benefit immensely from the Inland Dry Ports being established in various parts of the country.
The Minister of Transportation, Mu’azu Jaji Sambo stated this at the commissioning of the Dala Inland Dry Port in Kano State.
Mu’azu Sambo maintained that the Inland Dry Ports Projects will help decongest the seaports and also take shipping and port services closer to importers and exporters in the hinterland.
The Minister called on national and international maritime practitioners, shippers, shipping companies, landlocked countries and port users to take full advantage of the Inland Dry Ports for imports and exports.
However, he was silent on why the Federal Government was faster in completing only Kaduna and Kano Dry Port, leaving several others in other regions in sorry state.
Other Inland Dry Ports in Nigeria include IsialaNgwa, Aba; Erunmu, Ibadan; Heipang, Jos; Zamfarawa, Funtua; and Jauri, Maiduguri.
According to him, the Inland Dry Port initiative was conceived as part of the Federal Government’s ports reform programme and is to be sited at chosen locations across the country.
He said the six Inland Dry Ports approved by the Federal Executive Council would be concessioned to private sector operators on Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) with the strategic framework to build, own, operate and then transfer the projects to the government.
The Minister commended the President Buhari-led Federal Government for its effort at developing critical infrastructure in the country, especially in the transportation sector, adding that such effort will stand as a testimony for future generations.
On the Dala Inland Dry Port at Zawachiki in Kano State, Mu’azu Sambo explained that the State was chosen for the project because of its position as the commercial capital of Northern Nigeria.
He said the Dala Inland Dry Port which was concessioned to Messrs Dala Inland Dry Port Nigeria Limited, will be a Customs port in accordance with the provisions of the Customs and Excise Management Act, Cap. C45 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and shall have all the pre-requisites of an international port
