Kano govt boosts dry port project

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).