The Executive Secretary, Nigerian Shipper’s Council (NSC), Emmanuel Jime, has said that the Dala Inland Dry Port (IDP) will boost trans-Sahara trade developments and indeed the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Jime who is in Kano participating in the 16th National Council on Transportation also declared the Dala Inland Dry Port as a pace-setter for other dry Ports in the country.
The Shippers’ Council boss made these declarations while responding to the Dala IDP Chairman’s welcome address during inspection of the on-going construction at the Dry Port site at Zawachiki in Kano State.
He said, “Kano leads the way as far as commercial activities are concerned, as all the states in the Northern part of Nigeria regard Kano as the commercial hub”.
The NSC boss said that the support and partnership of the Kano State Government with regard to the development of the Dala IDP should be emulated by other State Governments.
According to him, “The Dala IDP when completed, will serve to decongest the seaports, reduce the cost of doing business and provide an avenue for shippers in the hinterland and neighboring countries like Niger, Chad, and Benin to have their cargoes transported to their doorsteps”.
The Chairman/CEO of the Dala Inland Dry Port, Abubakar Sahabo Bawuro appreciated the Kano State Government and the Nigerian Shippers’ Council for their roles in bringing the IDP project to actualization.
He further pleaded for the support of the Council to fast track the conferment of the dry port’s status as a Port of Origin and Port of Destination.
He assured that construction at the Dala IDP will be completed by the end of November 2021 and full operation will commence.
As part of its continuous Corporate Social Responsibility to the community, the company is constructing a school on the premises for children of the underserved; a project undertaken at the insistence of the Transport Minister, Rotimi Amaechi.
According to the Chairman, the IDP will attract volumes of economic activities to the State, boost the infrastructural development, increase the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), and also increase employment opportunities.
The five-day National Council on Transportation is a triennial event organized by the Federal Ministry of Transportation. It commenced on Monday 6th September and ended on Friday.
In attendance were the Commissioners and Permanent Secretaries of the Ministries of Transport in the 36 states of the Federation, multilateral organisations as well as stakeholders in the transport sector.
