Kano Inland Port will be transit port, says Shippers’ Council

The Nigerian Shippers’ Council on Friday said that the Kano Inland Dry Port would be a transit port and expected to connect landlocked countries of Niger Republic, Chad, Northern Cameroun and other Sahel African countries.

Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Barrister Hassan Bello, made the disclosure when the Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, paid a working visit to the Council.

Bello gave assurances of getting the Federal Executive Council’s approval for the project, considering the Kano State Government’s N2 billion investment on infrastructure for the project and the governor’s commitment to the project that started in 2006.

With a committee set up, as Bello disclosed, he said that the Council would continue to do its best in monitoring the $30 million project which first phase is put at $14 million with expected equity funding.

Ganduje had during the visit canvassed for declaration of port of origin and destination status for the state’s Dala Ganduje dry port.

He had appealed to the economic regulator to make a case to the Ministry of

Transportation so that the federal government would accord the dry port the new status so that importers could use it as port of destination from any part of the world.

He also appealed to the Ministry of Transportation to ensure that the dry port is linked with rail for an efficient trade facilitation.

The governor said, “We want you to follow up with the Ministry of Transportation for the facility to be declared as a port of origin and destination by the Honourable Minister.

“We also want you to assist and follow up with the Nigerian Railway Corporation for the rail line extension into the inland port; ensure cooperation and collaboration between the shipping lines and their agents with the inland port to allow seamless flow of both import and export cargoes.

“The Kano State Government under my watch had provided the 200 hectares of virgin land free of encumbrances required for the two integrated projects, the Inland Dry Port and Special Economic Zone; critical infrastructure required for the project including construction of standard dual carriage access road, provision of power and water to the project site among others.”

Ganduje appreciated the support of the Council over the dry ports project in the state, adding that when completed the dry port would boost the state as well as the national economy.

He commended the federal government’s policy on agriculture, saying it had added much value to the national economy as the country is gradually attaining self-sufficiency in food production.

He said his government was in the forefront of promoting agricultural production for export, “we are returning to all seasons farming covering the dry and rainy seasons and harmattan.”

The governor expressed confidence that the combined efforts of the state nd federal governments would enhance agricultural produce that would be benefiting from the Kano dry port.