Kaduna dry port to boost Nigeria’s economy- FG

The federal government said on Wednesday that the effort being made to put up a dry port at the land locked axis of Kaduna to service the Northern part of the country, is to boost the economic potentials of the place and indeed Nigeria in general.
The Minister of Transportation Mr. Chibuike Amaechi, said this in Kaduna while on inspection of work in progress.

Amaechi noted that the federal government is doing everything possible to give Nigerians sense of belonging and put food on the table of every Nigerian by creating employment opportunities, which the dry port is poised to achieve soon.

The minister further stated that the project, which is to be complemented by the emerging rail transportation, will have its narrow gauge begin operation before the last quarter of the year.
According to Amaechi, the narrow gauge will first of all be used to kick-start the link to the port with the National Lagos to Kano standard gauge already in place.
He however thanked the Kaduna states government for the efforts being made to ensure that the project succeeds.

Meanwhile, Governor of Kaduna state, Mallam El-Rufai, has assured adequate provision of access roads leading to the dry port to avoid repeating the mistake off Apapa port gridlock. He said, ” part of our effort is to help provide adequate support in anyway possible and to assist the Federal Government project coming to my state. You will recall that this is a project I inherited from the past PDP government but on our own we shall complement.”

Governor El-Rufai, however pleaded with the Minister and indeed the project sponsors to introduce the local content measure to create employment for the locals. “Please employ local people because we have employable people, Kaduna has good numbers of employable graduates with the State having the highest number of institutions churning out graduates yearly.

On the importance of rail transportation, Mallam El-Rufai, observed the shameful nature of an acclaimed greatest Nation in Africa with no rail transportation to power the economy.
Speaking earlier, Dr. Temitope Borisade, the Executive Director of ICLL the operators of the port, stated that the Kaduna dry port project, has been part of Government priority to enhance its economic base. ” the country no doubt have been talking of expanding the economy and this is the kind of project needed to embark on and in conjunction with other port operators to key into the project”m

Dr. Temintope, vowed of improved services rendered by its company, stating that it provides the kind of business everyone needs in doing business in a seaport.

Adding his voice to the enormous opportunities awaiting investors in the port. The Executive Secretary Nigeria Shippers Council Alhaji Hassan Bello, promised that the facilities being put on ground, will serve as economic base of the Nation. He said “what we are saying is that we have gotten the certification of all the international shipping association and that consignment can be directed to Kaduna from every part of the World.”