Shippers Council seeks Nexim Bank’s support on dry ports

The Nigerian Shippers Council, a federal government’s agency, established with the mandate to create an enabling environment for all stakeholders in the transport sector, is seeking the support and collaboration of Nigeria export and import (NEXIM) Bank for the execution of its two critical projects.

The two projects said to have huge economic potentials and are targeted at boosting trade and export opportunities, employment creation and foreign exchange earnings for the country, are the Inland Dry Ports and Truck Transit Parks planned for designated states of the country.

Hassan Bello, the Council’s Executive Secretary/CEO, explained during a visit to NEXIM Bank that the two projects were initiatives of the council that have the support of the National Economic Council of the Federal Government, and are aimed at addressing the issue of de-congesting the Nigerian Sea Ports.

The projects, he added, were also aimed to provide seamless movement of goods and services between the Sea ports/Dry inland ports, and assist in the over-all costs of cargo movements to hinterland locations as well as transit cargoes to landlocked countries.

“The Truck Transit Parks will also provide multiple benefits, including safety of truck drivers and the environment, while also stimulating other economic activities such as hotels, restaurants and hospitals that will be built around the parks”, Bello stated.

Bello highlighted the merits of other collaborative initiatives between the two agencies like the Sealink project which is an initiative of NEXIM Bank. He disclosed the support of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in providing an enabling platform for the Dry Inland Port, soliciting for NEXIM’s intervention under a Public Private Partnership arrangement.

Abba Bello,MD/CEO NEXIM Bank, commended the efforts of the council and emphasized the need to deepen relationships with relevant agencies and stakeholders in the sector to collaborate/explore areas of synergy so as to provide the much needed infrastructure and logistics to ensure that a standard dry port is established.

“The Inland dry port will promote and drive the exports of Nigerian products, and will also serve the West and Central African markets that are land-locked”, he said, pledging the Bank’s commitment to driving the initiative by participating, on a promotional basis, and providing the relevant technical/ financial support.

He urged the council to come up with a workable framework to map out the areas of partnership and support to be provided by the Bank, encouraging them to ensure the successful establishment/running of the Kaduna Dry Inland port which should serve as a pilot model for creating other Inland Dry Ports.