The Nation Newspaper

Tag: dry port

  • Dry port a priority to Abia, says Ikpeazu

    Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has said how much the proposed dry port to be established in the state means to his administration.

    He described the facility as a priority, adding that his administration would support and ensure that it becomes a reality, alongside the Inland Container Depot (ICD) to be situated at Ntigha in Isiala Ngwa North Local Government Area of the state.

    Ikpeazu, who was represented by the chairman Implementation Committee of the ICD, Mr Dan Nwankwo in a meeting with the concessionaires, East Gate Ltd, members of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) and other stakeholders at the state capital, Umuahia, said the project “is a priority to the state”, which the government would not want to toy with it.

    Nwankwo stated that the importance of the dry port to the state cannot be overemphasised, adding that the government was aware that more than 50 percent of goods imported into the country comes to Aba.

    He assured the investor and other stakeholders that the money they were going to invest wouldn’t be a waste as the state government would do all it could to ensure that the project succeeds.

    The chairman of East Gate Ltd, Mr. Bill Nkemdirim said they were in the state capital to present some of the partners to the state government.

    Nkemdirim said East Gate Ltd would ensure that the dry port came to reality, adding that the project when completed would create jobs for the unemployed youths and increase business and commerce in the state.

    The Executive Secretary, NSC, Mr. Hassan Bello, a lawyer, represented by John Choji of Lagos Council stated that the project when completed would enhance movement of goods from the ports to the southeast and south-south regions of the country, adding that the movement of goods from the ports to the dry port through railway would reduce the pressure of moving goods from various parts of the country using the highways and will also reduce the cost of transporting containers from one place to another.

    Other speakers including the Isiala Ngwa North Local Government chair, Ginger Onwusibe, member representing Isiala Ngwa North and South Federal Constituency, Hon. Darlington Nwokocha, HRH Eze Robert Nwaigwe; chairman of Land Donors said they were happy that the project was sited in their community and local government.

    They pledged to work with the concessionaire and the state government to ensure the project was realised.

  • FG to revamp dry port in Ibadan

    The federal govern-ment has expressed commitment to collaborate with the Oyo State government to ensure that the Inland Container Depot otherwise known as Dry Port at Erunmu in Egbeda Local Government Area of Oyo state becomes operational this year.

    The South West Zonal Coordinator, Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Dr Anifowose Olurotimi, who gave the hints in Ibadan yesterday during a courtesy visit to the State Commissioner for Commerce, Trade, Industry and Cooperative, Princess Taibat Adeyemi -Agaba, in her office, promised to meet all the stakeholders with a view to revamping the port .

    In his address, Anifowose who reinstated the readiness of the federal government to revive the moribund port noted its benefits to the socio-economic development of the country.

    His words:” I have a mandate to remove all the bottlenecks and ensure the Inland Container Depot is operational. What we will first of all do is to work on the level of awareness about the activities of our organisation in the South West zone of Nigeria”. Adeyemi-Agaba explained that the state government was ready to provide needed support and collaborate with relevant stakeholders to ensure that the Dry Port commences operation.

    She therefore sought for cooperation of members of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council and the Nigerian Export Promotion Council to facilitate trade and boost the economy of the country.

  • Fed Govt sets up committee on dry port

    Fed Govt sets up committee on dry port

    The Federal Government yesterday inaugurated a ministerial implementation committee on the Kaduna inland dry port.

    Speaking during the inauguration, the Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi  said that there was need to check the effects of congestions at the seaports.

    Amaechi stated that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) in 2006, approved the establishment of an Inland Container Deports (ICDs) to help assist in the reduction of the cost of moving cargo to landlocked parts of the country.

    The ICDs, according to the minister, was also set up to act as a means for improved trade flow, boost inland trading, revitalise export of agricultural products, which would lead to multi-product economy and creation of employment opportunities that would ultimately stem rural urban migration.

    The committee is expected to develop a road map for effective release and smooth flow of dry ports bound containers and cargoes to and from the country’s seaports.

    They are also expected to “develop a standard clearance procedures and documentation including scanning facilities; recommend an applicable software (electronic data interchange) for use and adaptation by the dry port concessionaires and operators at the respective dry ports; to establish a seamless interface for the complementary duties to be discharged by each of the service providers whose functions are key to the operations of the dry port, develop strategies for effective movements of cargoes to and from dry ports, suggest an effective multi-transport system synergy for inland cargo movement and develop strategies to sensitise stakeholders on the procedures guiding the use of dry ports.”

  • $50m dry port for Ogun

    $50m dry port for Ogun

    A shipping and cargo services company, Hull Blyth Nigeria, is planing to build a $50million dry port in Ewekoro Local Government Area of Ogun State.

    The site is about five kilometres from Lafarge Cement WAPCO Nigeria.

    Speaking in Abeokuta, its Managing Director, Christian Holm, said the dry port would be completed within one year and could create hundreds of direct and indirect jobs for Nigerians.

    Holm said the dry port was planned to serve as an extension of seaports in Lagos State.

    He said the port would be constructed by Hull Blyth Nigeria, a century-old shipping and cargo services firm.

    “We want to take advantage of the state’s nearness to Lagos as well as its conducive business environment,” Holm said.

    Sources close to the company said the state government was ready to fast-track the project, promising acquisition and allocation of land to prospective investors in addition to the required infrastructure and security.

    The influx of industries and investments into the state, the source said, was an indication that the state government has taken the right steps in its industrialisation drive.