Shippers Council to Engage Afreximbank, France Transport Minister on Edo Dry Port
NSC SHIPPERS COUNCIL
The Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) Thursday said it has reached out to Afreximbank and France Transport Minister to be part of the collaboration for the success of Edo dry port project.
The Exectuvie Secretrary of the Council, Mr Hassan Bello who disclosed this, explained that this was to ensure that the dry port becomes one of the best transport infrastructure in the country.
Bello who received members of the Edo State Inland Container Depot/ Truck Transit Park Implementation Committee said the plan would be finalised during a meeting with the leadership of Afreximbank and the France Minister of Transportation.
He said that the Francie Transport Minister is expected to visit the country in a forthnight, adding that Edo dry port was one of the top priority projects.
According to Bello, “The potentials of the Dry Port in Benin has never been questioned and NSC is as enthusiastic about the project as Edo State government and your committee.
“We want to see this port granted port of origin and destination. We have worked with the Infrastructure Concession and Regulatory Commission (ICRC).
“We also arranged for the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Transportation, Dr Magdalene Ajani to visit and be aware of the project. However, we are exercising caution on the infrastructure which you have invested so much.
“We don’t want the Edo dry port to be 100 per cent complete before we declare it as a port of origin and destination. If we have 60 percent, that is a demonstration of intention, goodwill and shows the capacity of the sponsors.
“Benin is a well-deserved city for dry port, but we need concrete investors so we have to market the project. It is one of the projects we intend to engage Afreximbank for funding.
“We can’t designate parks or markets as dry ports.
“There must be modern infrastructure and processes. There should be refrigerated warehouses, processing centers, connection to other crucial infrastructure such as rail, roads, etc. The dry port must reflect the economic ambition of Nigeria.” .
Bello noted that after the GAP Analysis of the project, the challenges would be in connectivity as there was no rail connection to the projects while the road was in poor state.
He said he had urged the state government to invest in the dry port like Kano state did, adding the state governor, Godwin Obaseki, was a development driven leader.
The Chairman of the Edo State Inland Container Depot/ Truck Transit Park Implementation Committee , Engr. Charles Akhigbe. In his response said the state government has approved reconstruction of the road leading to the dry port.
Akihigbe also said the rail connection from Agbor was being planned.
He added that NSC CEO’s visist in 2017 helped in the dry port being given recognition.
Akhigbe added, “You also paid a courtesy visit to His Excellency the Governor and to His Royal Majesty Oba Ewuare Il. The Governor and Oba asked me to extend their greetings to you.
“ However, the reoccurring question on their lips at every point in time I met with them was: What is causing the delay in the dry port becoming a reality after five years since our formal application?”
“The main reason for this visit is to seek to improve our relationship with the NSC so we can maintain a harmonious relationship. As our industry regulator, it is our responsibility to have a longer listening ear.
“ We are here to assure you of our continued loyalty and trust, so that NSC can continue to guide us through the process to achieve the final grant of licence as a port of origin and destination.”
The Exectuvie Secretrary of the Council, Mr Hassan Bello who disclosed this, explained that this was to ensure that the dry port becomes one of the best transport infrastructure in the country.
Bello who received members of the Edo State Inland Container Depot/ Truck Transit Park Implementation Committee said the plan would be finalised during a meeting with the leadership of Afreximbank and the France Minister of Transportation.
He said that the Francie Transport Minister is expected to visit the country in a forthnight, adding that Edo dry port was one of the top priority projects.
According to Bello, “The potentials of the Dry Port in Benin has never been questioned and NSC is as enthusiastic about the project as Edo State government and your committee.
“We want to see this port granted port of origin and destination. We have worked with the Infrastructure Concession and Regulatory Commission (ICRC).
“We also arranged for the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Transportation, Dr Magdalene Ajani to visit and be aware of the project. However, we are exercising caution on the infrastructure which you have invested so much.
“We don’t want the Edo dry port to be 100 per cent complete before we declare it as a port of origin and destination. If we have 60 percent, that is a demonstration of intention, goodwill and shows the capacity of the sponsors.
“Benin is a well-deserved city for dry port, but we need concrete investors so we have to market the project. It is one of the projects we intend to engage Afreximbank for funding.
“We can’t designate parks or markets as dry ports.
“There must be modern infrastructure and processes. There should be refrigerated warehouses, processing centers, connection to other crucial infrastructure such as rail, roads, etc. The dry port must reflect the economic ambition of Nigeria.” .
Bello noted that after the GAP Analysis of the project, the challenges would be in connectivity as there was no rail connection to the projects while the road was in poor state.
He said he had urged the state government to invest in the dry port like Kano state did, adding the state governor, Godwin Obaseki, was a development driven leader.
The Chairman of the Edo State Inland Container Depot/ Truck Transit Park Implementation Committee , Engr. Charles Akhigbe. In his response said the state government has approved reconstruction of the road leading to the dry port.
Akihigbe also said the rail connection from Agbor was being planned.
He added that NSC CEO’s visist in 2017 helped in the dry port being given recognition.
Akhigbe added, “You also paid a courtesy visit to His Excellency the Governor and to His Royal Majesty Oba Ewuare Il. The Governor and Oba asked me to extend their greetings to you.
“ However, the reoccurring question on their lips at every point in time I met with them was: What is causing the delay in the dry port becoming a reality after five years since our formal application?”
“The main reason for this visit is to seek to improve our relationship with the NSC so we can maintain a harmonious relationship. As our industry regulator, it is our responsibility to have a longer listening ear.
“ We are here to assure you of our continued loyalty and trust, so that NSC can continue to guide us through the process to achieve the final grant of licence as a port of origin and destination.”
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