Kano Govt Boosts Dry Port Project with N2bn Infrastructure
*Kano dry port now on front banner, Says Bello
By Francis Ugwoke
The Dala Inland Dry Port in Kano has recorded a boost of N2billion infrastructure from the state government to facilitate the project.
The Executive Secretary, Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC), Mr Hassan Bello told SHIPPING DAY in a chat that the Kano State Government has demonstrated keen interest in the dry port project in the state with the commitment of N2bn infrastructure project necessary for the dry port.
Bello said the state government has already awarded contracts for the infrastructure development.
It was also gathered that the Dala Inland Dry Port which is the concessionaire of the dry port project has gotten technical partners, a development which is expected to fasten the pace of the project.
According to Bello, with this development, Kano dry port project was now on the front banner.
However, the NSC CEO was not pleased with the pace of work at the Isiala Ngwa, Abia State, dry port project, saying, “the one giving us problem is the one in Abia State”.
Although, he noted that the concessionaire was very hardworking, he expressed concern that somehow so much was yet to be done.
Bello said a lot of options which he did not disclose were being looked at.
It would be recalled that worried about the slow pace of work on some of the Inland Dry Ports (IDPs) in the six geo-political zones of the country as a result of paucity of funds, the ports economic regulator had last year considered assisting the concessionaires to attract investors and necessary funding.
The Council, it was gathered, was concerned that apart from the Kaduna IDP which took off about two years ago, the rest IDP projects were yet to be completed by the concessionaires due to lack of finance.
To ensure that the concessionaires complete their projects as soon as possible, the Council had approached the Commonwealth Enterprise Investment Council (CWEIC) to be involved in the search for interested investors for the IDP projects.
It was gathered that the Council approached the London office of the body which was established in 2014 with mandate from Commonwealth Heads of Government to promote intra-commonwealth trade and investments across the 53 member countries.
CWEIC is responsible for organising the Commonwealth Business Forum alongside the biennial Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting and Commonwealth Trade Ministers Meeting on alternative years.
Bello led the management team of the Council to attend the Advisory Council Meeting of CWEIC held in Lagos last year during which a lot of business opportunities across and beyond Nigeria were laid bare.
Apart from IDP projects, the Council is also interested in getting investors for other transport sector infrastructure projects, such as Truck Transit Parks (TTP) and Border Information Centres.
Both IDP and TTP projects are considered as having multiplier effects on the national economy with thousands of jobs to be created when completed.
The Council sees the dry port project as imperative to trade facilitation as it will enable shippers in the hinterland to import and export without having to travel to Lagos seaports or other seaports for the process.
For instance, with the Kaduna IDP, importers in any part of the world who wish to use that dry port can do so by indicating it as Port of Destination for their goods instead of using Lagos seaport.
Similarly, businessmen from that zone who have goods to export can use the dry port without having to go through Lagos seaport.
Among the dry ports include the Kaduna IDP, Kano, Jos Plateau State, Isiala Ngwa, Abia State, Borno, Maiduguri, Kaduna, Ibadan and Benin, Edo state.
However, a source disclosed that though the Council had taken hard position to ensure that the concessionaires complete their projects, it is committed to lending a helping hand in whatever capacity to accelerate investments in the IDPs and TTPS for the concessionaires to succeed.
The source said the ultimate goal of the Council is to see that the projects come to fruition as soon as possible, considering the benefits to the national economy and states where they are sited.
As a member of the CWEIC, the source said the Council wants to use its contacts to link the concessionaires to possible investors in either the IDPs or TTPs projects.
Bello has been giving concessionaires every assurance about rail connection to the dry ports and seaports to ensure smooth trade facilitation.
He said that the Federal Government through the Transport Ministry was working hard to ensure rail connection to the dry ports.
On the Truck Transit Project (TTP), he disclosed that progress is also being made in respect of the Lokoja project.
According to him, the Governor of Kogi State has concluded arrangements to pay compensation for the council to advertise PPP project.
Similarly, he said the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, will be donating 108 hectares for the TTP along Abaji local government area.
By Francis Ugwoke
The Dala Inland Dry Port in Kano has recorded a boost of N2billion infrastructure from the state government to facilitate the project.
The Executive Secretary, Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC), Mr Hassan Bello told SHIPPING DAY in a chat that the Kano State Government has demonstrated keen interest in the dry port project in the state with the commitment of N2bn infrastructure project necessary for the dry port.
Bello said the state government has already awarded contracts for the infrastructure development.
It was also gathered that the Dala Inland Dry Port which is the concessionaire of the dry port project has gotten technical partners, a development which is expected to fasten the pace of the project.
According to Bello, with this development, Kano dry port project was now on the front banner.
However, the NSC CEO was not pleased with the pace of work at the Isiala Ngwa, Abia State, dry port project, saying, “the one giving us problem is the one in Abia State”.
Although, he noted that the concessionaire was very hardworking, he expressed concern that somehow so much was yet to be done.
Bello said a lot of options which he did not disclose were being looked at.
It would be recalled that worried about the slow pace of work on some of the Inland Dry Ports (IDPs) in the six geo-political zones of the country as a result of paucity of funds, the ports economic regulator had last year considered assisting the concessionaires to attract investors and necessary funding.
The Council, it was gathered, was concerned that apart from the Kaduna IDP which took off about two years ago, the rest IDP projects were yet to be completed by the concessionaires due to lack of finance.
To ensure that the concessionaires complete their projects as soon as possible, the Council had approached the Commonwealth Enterprise Investment Council (CWEIC) to be involved in the search for interested investors for the IDP projects.
It was gathered that the Council approached the London office of the body which was established in 2014 with mandate from Commonwealth Heads of Government to promote intra-commonwealth trade and investments across the 53 member countries.
CWEIC is responsible for organising the Commonwealth Business Forum alongside the biennial Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting and Commonwealth Trade Ministers Meeting on alternative years.
Bello led the management team of the Council to attend the Advisory Council Meeting of CWEIC held in Lagos last year during which a lot of business opportunities across and beyond Nigeria were laid bare.
Apart from IDP projects, the Council is also interested in getting investors for other transport sector infrastructure projects, such as Truck Transit Parks (TTP) and Border Information Centres.
Both IDP and TTP projects are considered as having multiplier effects on the national economy with thousands of jobs to be created when completed.
The Council sees the dry port project as imperative to trade facilitation as it will enable shippers in the hinterland to import and export without having to travel to Lagos seaports or other seaports for the process.
For instance, with the Kaduna IDP, importers in any part of the world who wish to use that dry port can do so by indicating it as Port of Destination for their goods instead of using Lagos seaport.
Similarly, businessmen from that zone who have goods to export can use the dry port without having to go through Lagos seaport.
Among the dry ports include the Kaduna IDP, Kano, Jos Plateau State, Isiala Ngwa, Abia State, Borno, Maiduguri, Kaduna, Ibadan and Benin, Edo state.
However, a source disclosed that though the Council had taken hard position to ensure that the concessionaires complete their projects, it is committed to lending a helping hand in whatever capacity to accelerate investments in the IDPs and TTPS for the concessionaires to succeed.
The source said the ultimate goal of the Council is to see that the projects come to fruition as soon as possible, considering the benefits to the national economy and states where they are sited.
As a member of the CWEIC, the source said the Council wants to use its contacts to link the concessionaires to possible investors in either the IDPs or TTPs projects.
Bello has been giving concessionaires every assurance about rail connection to the dry ports and seaports to ensure smooth trade facilitation.
He said that the Federal Government through the Transport Ministry was working hard to ensure rail connection to the dry ports.
On the Truck Transit Project (TTP), he disclosed that progress is also being made in respect of the Lokoja project.
According to him, the Governor of Kogi State has concluded arrangements to pay compensation for the council to advertise PPP project.
Similarly, he said the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, will be donating 108 hectares for the TTP along Abaji local government area.
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