To further grow the country’s economy through non-oil exports, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has commissioned the Funtua Inland Dry Port in Katsina State.
Speaking at the commissioning, the president said the Funtua Inland Dry Port represents yet another step forward for Nigeria’s economic development.
“This port, strategically located in Funtua, Katsina State, is the third to be completed and commissioned among the six legacy Inland Dry Port projects spread across our nation’s six geo-political zones.
“It is imperative to acknowledge the long-awaited anticipation from our hinterland business communities for such essential facilities. The Funtua Inland Dry Port holds immense potential to enhance the ease of conducting international business for interior-based shippers, both importers and exporters.
“In line with the renewed hope agenda of my administration, this development aligns with our commitment to diversify the economy towards non-oil exports.”.
Represented by the Secretary to the Federal Government, Dr. George Akume, Tinubu explained that the concept of inland dry ports has gained prominence globally, particularly with the container revolution and the advent of door-to-door cargo delivery.
“This port grants importers and exporters located within our inland cities, as well as neighbouring hinterland countries such as Niger, Chad, Northern Cameroon, and Central Africa, access to shipping and port services without the need to physically visit seaports.
“Moreover, the Funtua Inland Dry Port offers importers the convenience of processing cargo clearance and receiving raw materials and machinery closer to their places of business. For exporters, it provides essential facilities for processing, packaging, consolidating, and forwarding exports worldwide.
“This infrastructure is integral to our administration’s commitment to promoting export business across Nigeria, thereby achieving trade balance and creating employment opportunities for our youth,” he stated.
The President reaffirmed that, recognising the vital role of inland dry port lines in connecting sea ports to the hinterlands, “I reaffirm our administration’s commitment to prioritising the completion and utilisation of more dry port projects. The critical infrastructure necessary for the seamless operation of inland dry ports is being targeted.
“Currently, extensive rehabilitation and upgrade works on roads, rail, and waterway infrastructure are being scheduled. These efforts are to facilitate trade, reduce costs, and enhance the ease of doing business across the nation.
“I implore the general public, host communities, and the state to consider these private investments as part of our national assets and ensure their protection.”.
Also at the commissioning, the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Oyetola Adegboyega, stated that Katsina State has been ranked highly in agricultural products and in other businesses in the country, such as the largest producer of cotton and the second largest producer of sorghum, which produces 13% of Nigeria’s sugarcane, placing it in second place in Nigeria, as well as other cereals and legume crops.
“In addition to all these, the presence of several manufacturing industries in Katsina not only makes it suited but most qualified to host an inland dry port.
“Your Excellency, Mr President, you may wish to recall that the Inland Dry Port Projects were conceived as part of the Federal Government’s Ports Reform Programme, designed to, among others, decongest the seaports while also taking shipping and port services closer to importers and exporters in the hinterland.
“We are also collaborating with the Ministries of Transportation and Works to help further increase our port efficiency. For the Ministry of Transportation, we are collaborating on the intra-modal link between the seaports and the inland dry ports, while the Ministry of Works is assisting in fixing the access roads to our ports. All these efforts are aimed at improving the ease of doing business in our port.”
On his part, the Governor of Katsina State, Dr Dikko Umar Radda, commended the effects of the federal government in ensuring the completion of the Dry Port.
He said the state contributed to the project by allocating 70 hectares of land as well as a 3-kilometre carriage for the port.
Dikko therefore appealed to the regularing agencies to work in the facility to collaborate with the private sector and the host community in order to achieve the goals of establishing the port.
In his vote of thanks, the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC), Puis Ukeyima Akutah, said the port will contribute immensely to the economic growth of the state and the country at large.
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