FG put in process to facilitate take- off of Kano Dry Port project

The Federal Government has expressed commitment towards facilitating all the processes necessary for the actualization of the multi-billion dollar Inland Dry Port, project, slated for the commercial city of Kano.

Ahmad Rabiu, chairman of the Port, made this disclosure, while providing updated information to BusinessDay in Kano today.

Rabiu said that his company has got an assurance from the Presidency, as well as, the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, on the preparedness of the government to gazette the port as ’a port of origin and destination’

According to him, the declaration will make it possible for port users to ship their cargoes from Kano, and also chose the port as a place where they can receive their cargoes.

“Dala Dry Port has being on for almost one and half decade, it started as unsolicited Public Private Partnership with the Federal Government in year 2000, it was in the year 2002 that the government actually approved the scheme, after the Nigerian Shippers Council commissioned a study of the scheme.

“By 2003, we were approved as a concessionaire by the administration of President Olusegun Obasanjo, but it was in 2006 that we eventually signed the contract of the concessionaire, what caused the delay was that the government changed the concept by resorting to providing all the needed infrastructure, while, we are designated to operate the port for a period of 25 years.

“At the end of everything, the major delay was the inability by government to gazette the port after we were given the certificate of operation.

“ However, we are happy to disclose that the present administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, had given assurance to gazette the port as ‘a port of origin and destination’, and two months ago, a delegation of the Ministry of Transportation was sent to inspect the site ” he explained.

“As you know, the Port project is a Greenfield project which require a lot of resources, and we expect that by the time the declaration is made the fund providers who have indicated interest will be making their funds available.

“We are also happy with the recent resolve move by the Federal Government to build a Standard Gauge Railway from Lagos to Kano, which from very indication will assist in making the project as success.

“Even, before the new rail is developed, we have the Narrow Gauge which is already functional, and definitely is good enough for the take off of the project” he added.

On completion the project will go a long way in boosting economic activities, particularly, efficiency, as well as reduction in cost of doing business in the state, and North West Geo political zone of the country.