How Shippers’ Council, Duncan Maritime plan to open Plateau State for business
The Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) has over a decade, shown strong commitment to diversifying the nation’s import and export trade from depending solely on seaports in the Southern part of the country, to building inland dry ports that would cater for businesses in the hinterlands.
For this reason, the Council conceived the idea of building a private sector driven Inland Dry Port also known as Inland Container Depots (ICDs) in six geo-political zones in Nigeria, and they include Isiala-Ngwa, Aba; Erunmu, Ibadan; Heipang, Jos; Zawachiki, Kano; Zamfarawa, Funtua and Jauri, Maiduguri.
The benefits of inland port cannot be under-emphasised as it would help to bring port operations closer to the users and for ease of cargo movement, which would in turn help to decongest the seaports as imported cargo are transferred immediately to the ICDs, where the owners are expected to clear the consignment.
Although, the realisation of this economic rewarding project has been delayed for several years, the Council has so far made significant move towards actualising this as the NSC in partnership with Duncan Maritime Services Limited, the concessionaire in charge of the ICD in Heipang, Jos, recently commenced construction work on the port site.
Built on a land mass of 33.7 hectares of land, the port would have the capacity to handle 20,000 twenty equivalent units (TEUs), and would be a game changer in the economic activities of not only the Plateau State but the entire North-Eastern region.
Close watchers believed that Jos Inland Port, when completed would open the State for more business activities as shippers based in Yobe, Taraba, Adamawa, Gome and Bauchi, would rely on the port for their import and export business. By so doing, the port would help lower freight and cost for shippers, earn foreign exchange for the state and create multi-modal transport system.
Speaking on Friday in Jos during the inspection of the port site, Rotimi Amaechi, minister of transport, said that the Federal government will do everything possible to provide the needed infrastructure that would ensure the vision of ICD projects, is realised.
The Minister, who identified railway as vital to ease of moving cargoes from the seaports in Lagos, Warri and Port Harcourt, to the ICDs, assured importers and exporters in the North-East of the Federal Government’s resolve to rehabilitate the existing narrow rail gauge from Abuja-Jos.
“The reason for building inland port is to ease the challenges businesses located in Jos and its environs go through while importing or exporting through the seaports in the South. We hope that the concessionaire will complete the construction of the port project within the specified time frame,” the minister said.
According to him, the Federal Government will in partnership with an American company, General Electric (GE) rehabilitate the whole narrow gauge in the country for the interim use and to enable the government source fund to build standard gauge railway that would enable fast movement of cargoes and passengers. The minister however, assured the people of Plateau State of the Federal Government’s support towards ensuring the successful take-off of the Inland port.
On the importance of the port, Simeon Bako Lalong, Governor of Plateau State, who stated that the people of Plateau State has been waiting anxiously for the successful take-off of the port, pleaded with the Federal Government to extend the Abuja-Kaduna rail line to Jos, so as to enable the port to effectively cater for the needs of the North-Eastern States.
“We are working to sort out all the issues on the State Government side to ensure that the dry port project is completed within the estimated time frame as slated,” the Governor said.
He pointed that a rail link from Abuja to Jos, will be a big economic boost for the six states in the region. The Governor also promised his administration’s support for the project to succeed.
Hassan Bello, executive secretary of the NSC, who expressed delight over the commitment shown by the FG, the state government and the concessionaire towards the completion of the project, said that the project would create employment opportunities for the youths in the State.
The NSC boss said the port will boost the economies of the communities as well as reduce the difficulties encountered by shippers’ in international trade. Bello also assured that the federal government was fully committed to the project, as the Minister travelled all the way from Abuja on the road for four hours to inspect the project site.
He added that the port would also help to ease the challenges faced by importers and businesses located in Jos and its environs in the area of having to travel to Lagos or Port Harcourt to take delivery of their consignments.
Godfrey Shitgurum, managing director of Duncan said that the dry port would cater for the needs of businesses in North Central States including Abuja Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and the North east states.
The project, according to him, would help in generating revenue to the State and Federal Government, if fully operational. “It would also create employment opportunities, expand the economic value chain and open up new business opportunities for the citizens of the state.”
Shitgurum, who promised to deliver on the project, appealed to the Minister to use his office to fast track the gazette of the Jos Inland Port as a port of origin and destination. He also appealed to the NSC to facilitate the signing of Government Support Approval (GSA) to guarantee the state governments’ continuous support for the project.
The Minister also promised to return in June for further assessment of the project, and he also assured the concessionaire of his support towards the gazette of the Port, as Port of origin necessary for it to be internationally recognised.
Uzoamaka Anagor-Ewuzie