By Uzor Odigbo
The Federal government has expressed optimism that the Funtua Dry Port located in Katsina would serve northern Nigeria as well as neighbouring hinterland nations like Niger, Chad, Northern Cameroon and Central African Republic.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu shared this view as he commissioned Funtua Dry Port on Thursday, even as he promised that supporting infrastructure including roads and railway will be provided at the port.
His said , “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.”
President Tinubu, who was represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, opined that the facility 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,” he remarked.
The President equally lauded the State Government, the Nigerian Shippers’ Council ( NSC), management of Funtua Inland Dry Port and other stakeholders for the pivotal role they have played that made the project a reality.
He, however, called on the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) to ensure that the other designated dry port locations are completed.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Marine & Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola said the dry port project was designed to decongest the seaports and bring shipping services to the hinterlands.
According to Oyetola, the dry port project will promote the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and create an enabling environment for businesses to strive in the northern regions.
On his part, the Executive Governor of Katsina State, Dr. Dikko Umar Radda, assured that his administration is determined to ensure that Katsina State is an investment haven.
According to him, the dry port project is a transport infrastructure project which is seamless and will facilitate the movement of goods, therefore he admonished all relevant agencies to operate at the port to exhibit understanding and professionalism in their operations.
The Chairman, Funtua Inland Dry Port, Alhaji (Dr.) Umaru Abdul Mutallab, expressed profound appreciation to the dignitaries present at the official commissioning of the Funtua Inland Dry Port project.
According to him, in 2006 Nigerian Shippers’ Council identified Funtua as a viable place for the establishment of dry port project in Katsina State through Build Ownv Operate and Transfer (BOOT) arrangement and appreciated those behind the success of the dry port project in the state.
In his vote of thanks, the Executive Secretary/CEO of NSC, Pius Akutah, MON, said that the port will contribute immensely to the economic growth of the state and the country at large.
He pointed out that the Council will continue to support the operations of the Funtua Inland Dry Port and also attend to their complaints and help in resolving them
