Kano Dry Port will act as a transit port, says Bello

The Executive Secretary of Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Mr. Hassan Bello has stated that the Kano Inland Dry Port (IDP) will be a transit port and connect landlocked countries of Niger Republic, Chad, Northern Cameroun, and other Sahel African countries.

Bello said this when he received the Kano State Governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, who paid a courtesy visit to the Council’s office last week Friday.

Bello who expressed delight in the investment of about N2billion by the Kano State government on infrastructure assured that his Council would work to ensure that the project gets the Federal Executive Council (FEC) approval before the end of the year.

Bello added that the present administration of Ganduje has shown tremendous commitment to the realization of the dry port project in the state which started in 2006.

He said the dry port would add a lot of value to the economy of the state, the entire Northern region and other neighbouring African countries.

He assured that his Council would continue to do its best in monitoring the $30 million project which the first phase is put at $14 million with funding expected from equity.

Bello disclosed that the Council has already set up a Committee to monitor the dry port project.

Ganduje had during the visit canvassed for declaration of the 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 can use it as a port of destination from any part of the world.

He also appealed to the Ministry of Transport to ensure that the dry port is linked with rail for 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 economy of the state as well as the national economy.

He commended the federal government’s policy on agriculture, adding that this has added a lot of 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, adding, “we are returning to all seasons farming covering the dry and rainy seasons and harmattan”.

According to him, the combined effects of efforts of the state and that of the federal government would greatly enhance agricultural products that will benefit from the Kano dry port.