*calls on exporters in North to take advantage of facility
By; JACOB ONJEWU DICKSON
Kaduna Inland Dry Port will generate no fewer than 5,000 direct employment at the commencement of operations.
Chairman of the port, Mr. Tope Borishade has revealed this at a press conference Thursday in Kaduna immediately after the commissioning of the port.
He said Kaduna Inland Dry Port which is among the seven dry ports being promoted by Nigerian Shippers Council, was built by us (Kaduna Inland Dry Port Limited) and has the capacity to handle 29,000 tons of containers yearly at the first phase of operation, and likely to double when fully completed.
Represented by the Manager, Rotimi o. Rotimi, the chairman said “It is also estimated to generate no fewer than 5,000 direct employment at the commencement of operations.
“As you are very much aware, President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR just commissioned the Kaduna Inlard Dry Port, the Premier Dry Port in the country. As you may be aware, Dry Ports or Inland Container Depots (ICDs) or a Container Freight Stations (CFS) are inland intermodal terminals directly connected by road, rail and air to a sea port and operating as a centre for trans-shipment of sea cargo to inland destinations.
“The Kaduna Inland Dry Port was gazetted on May 26h, 2015 by the Federal Government of Nigeria as a port of origin and port of destination. What this means is that Shippers can use this port to bring in their cargo and also use it to export goods or agricultural produce from Kaduna State neighboring states or even landlocked countries of Niger, Chad among others”, he said.
The Chairman added that “For emphasis, the Kaduna Inland Dry Port which is the first of its kind in Nigeria that has been licensed to receive cargo from Lagos seaports – Apapa/Tincan Island Port, through the railway or by road and also export goods through the same channel. This means shipping has been brought to your door steps!
” It is important to also emphasize that the idea to establish Inland Container Depots in the hinterland was informed by the need to reduce the congestion in Lagos ports and provide relief for the busy Apapa road. So, shippers from all parts of the north and beyond are encouraged to do
Business from here and save themselves the troubles of travelling to the seaports in Lagos, Port Harcourt and Calabar to receive or send their cargo.
Business from here and save themselves the troubles of travelling to the seaports in Lagos, Port Harcourt and Calabar to receive or send their cargo.
“Farmers can form into cooperatives and come forward with their farm produce goods to take advantage of our 4,000 Square metres capacity warehouse at the port (Kaduna inland dry port) to store and consolidate their export goods for export forwarding to various countries abroad. This initiative will empower and create multiple employment in the community.
“It is a well-known fact that Kaduna State is the largest producer of ginger in the country, and the new port provides the opportunity for the exportation of processed agricultural produce to other countries of the world from Kaduna Inland Dry Port.
“The market for agricultural produce from Kaduna will improve tremendously as from today, with exportation of the produce and others such as hibiscus, sesame seed, Shea Butter etc to China, Singapore, America,
UK and other countries of the world where agricultural products are in high
demand
“We would like to use this opportunity to thank the Governor of Kaduna
State, Malam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, the Minister of Transportation, Rt. Hon
Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi and the Executive Secretary/CEO of the Nigerian
Shippers Council, Mr. Hassan Bello for making this project a success.
“We call on shippers from Kaduna and all the states in the North to take advantages of the potentials inherent in this port for revenue generation and wealth creation”. He said.
UK and other countries of the world where agricultural products are in high
demand
“We would like to use this opportunity to thank the Governor of Kaduna
State, Malam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, the Minister of Transportation, Rt. Hon
Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi and the Executive Secretary/CEO of the Nigerian
Shippers Council, Mr. Hassan Bello for making this project a success.
“We call on shippers from Kaduna and all the states in the North to take advantages of the potentials inherent in this port for revenue generation and wealth creation”. He said.
