Dala Port, flagship in trans-Sahara trade, AFCFTA – Jime

…Assures November completion deadline

By Ezurike Ugochukwu

The Dala Inland Dry Port (IDP), Kano State, has been affirmed as the primary route to breeding trans-sahara trade developments and indeed the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Agreement growth.

The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shipper’s Council (NSC), Emmanuel Jime confirmed this while participating at the 16th National Council on Transportation.

Jime however declared the Port as pace-setter for others in the country while he was in Kano to participate in the 16th National Council on Transportation.

In a statement released by Rakiya Dhikru-Yagboyaju , Head, Public Relations of the council, made available to Nation Update, Jime made the disclosure while responding to the Dala IDP Chairman’s welcome address during inspection of the on-going construction at the site located at Zawachiki, Kano.

The NSC head stressed that: “Kano leads the way as far as commercial activities are concerned, as all the states in the northern part of Nigeria regard Kano as the commercial hub”.

Jime emphasised that the support and partnership of the Kano State Government with regard to the development of the Dala IDP should be emulated by other State Governments.

He said, “The Dala IDP when completed, will serve to decongest the seaports, reduce the cost of doing business and provide an avenue for shippers in the hinterland and neighboring countries like Niger, Chad, and Benin to have their cargoes transported to their doorsteps”.

Gov Ganduje and Kawuro

The Chairman/CEO of the Dala Inland Dry Port, Abubakar Sahabo Bawuro appreciated the Kano State Government and Nigerian Shippers’ Council for their roles in bringing the IDP project to actualization.

He further pleaded for the support of the Council to fast track the conferment of the dry port’s status as a Port of Origin and Port of Destination.

Construction at the Dala IDP he assured will be completed by the end of November 2021 and full operation will commence.

As part of its continuous Corporate Social Responsibility to the community, the company is constructing a school on the premises for children of the underserved; a project undertaken at the insistence of the Transport Minister, Honorable Rotimi Amaechi.

According to the Chairman, the IDP will attract volumes of economic activities to the State, boost the infrastructural development, increase the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), and also increase employment opportunities.

The five-day National Council on Transportation is a triennial event organized by the Federal Ministry of Transportation. It commenced on Monday the sixth of September and ends Friday.

In attendance were the Commissioners and Permanent Secretaries of the Ministries of transport in the 36 states of the Federation, multilateral organisations as well as stakeholders in the transport sector.