Trade Facilitation: Optimism on Maiduguri Dry Port, as NSC Team, Borno Governor, Concessionaires Hold Discussions on Speedy Completion
• Governor Zulum leads cabinet members to Shippers’ Council Lagos Headquarters
By Francis Ugwoke
Work on Maiduguri Inland Dry Port (IDP) which was suspended some years ago following intense security issues in Borno State may soon resume following measures being taken by the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) and the Borno State Government.
Already, a team of the NSC and cabinet members of the Borno State Government met in Lagos on Wednesday to hold discussions on how to facilitate early completion of the Dry Port in the state.
The Borno State Governor, Prof Babagana Zulum led some of his cabinet members to the Headquarters of the NSC in Lagos where he was received by the Executive Secretary, Barr Pius Akutah.
Akutah while welcoming the Governor and his team said his physical presence at the meeting was a clear indication of his deep commitment to the development of infrastructures that will promote economic growth in the state and the country.
The ES said that the Ports Economic Regulator has been mandated by federal government to promote the development of critical transport infrastructures such as Inland Dry Ports in the country.
He said that Maiduguri happens to be one of the foremost inland dry ports slated for construction after its concession in 2006 under Build–Operate–Transfer (BOT).
Akutah said that the construction of the dry port has been a major concern to the federal government since Borno occupies a very crucial location in Nigeria’s international trade and routes.
He disclosed that after the commissioning of the Funtua Inland Dry Port project in Katsina State, the President had directed a quick development and commissioning of other major dry ports of which Maiduguri is among.
He added that dry port has been estimated to take as much as 10,000 teus when completed.
He regreted that at the moment the dry port is at the level of below 10 percent work done so far, as a result of security challenges in the state.
He stressed that efforts have been made for the project to take-off in view of the importance of the route to trade in Nigeria especially as there is government focus on promoting the development of the non-oil sector of the national economy.
“We are here to look at the way out of the security situation in Maiduguri and bring the two partners (concessionaires – two companies together) to see how the project can go on”, he said.
He further explained that the meeting was to see how the Council and the State Government can bridge the gap and speak to the two companies involved in the project to make headway.
According to him, “We have seen the extent of work done in one of the terminals there, the support the state government has given to them and we want to see how we can leverage on that and bring the two partners together to see if there will be synergy to develop that infrastructure for the sake of national development”.
In his response, Governor Zulum expressed the readiness of his government to the development of the IDP in the state.
He said that the establishment will bring about a lot of economic benefits to the state and the federal government.
The completion of the dry port, according to him, will reduce unemployment and therefore reduce insecurity in the state.
Besides, he said, it will lead to additional revenue generation for the country.
Part of the meeting on Wednesday were representatives from the Migfo Nigeria Limited who is one of the concessionaires, Borno State Investment Corporation.
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