The Minister of Transportation, Rt. Hon Rotimi Amaechi, on Thursday, June 23, inaugurated a 16 member Ministerial Implementation Committee, chaired by the Director of Maritime Services, Mr. S.U. Galadanchi, for the immediate completion of the Kaduna Inland Dry Port project.
The move according to political analysts, is a giant step on the part of the Ministry of Transportation, as it will create jobs, ease doing businesses and boost export of agricultural produce in Northern Nigeria.
It could be recalled, that one of the cardinal agenda of President Muhammadu Buhari, has been the diversification of the Nation’s economy, of which Amaechi has been hailed to have taken a bold step in that direction.
Amaechi, while inaugurating the Committee members said, “It is my pleasure to welcome you all to this occasion of the Inauguration of the Kaduna Inland Dry Port Ministerial Implementation Committee.
“It would be necessary to recall, that following the need to check the ripple effects of congestions in the nation’s seaports, the Federal Executive Council, in March 2006, approved the establishment of Inland Container Deports, ICDs, in the country.“The concept was predicated on the Public Private Partnership, PPP, using Build, Own, Operate and Transfer, BOOT, model.“The policy was gazette vide the Federal Republic of Nigeria official gazette no 30 volume 94 of 21st May, 2007.“The ICD as an equivalent of a sea port located in the hinterland, receives containers by rail or road from the seaport for examination, with clearance formalities done by the Nigeria Customs Service and other competent authorities. It also has all the loading and off-loading equipment needed to handle containers”.
According to the Minister, the main objective of the port is geared towards decongesting the seaports; reduction of the cost of transiting cargo to landlocked neighbouring countries; improving turnaround time of ships, and subsequently facilitating reduction in freights charges.
Other benefits are, boosting inland trading; revitalizing export of agricultural products for the purpose of increasing the nation’s revenue drive, thereby creating employment opportunities.
The Committee is made up of Mr. Hassan Bello (ES/CEO NSC), Mr. Ekawu P.O (DD, ICD, FMOT), Mr. Makinde A.N, D (ITS) NSC, Mr. Onojedo G,DD (PPP Unit) NSC, Mrs Ogbonnah M.C, AD (ITS) NSC, Mr. Nasir A. Mohammed GM (NPA), Mr. Akin Osinowo DD (M&C) NRC, Mr. H.I Swomen Deputy Comptroller Customs, Mr. Todd Rives (SAN), Pastor S.O Keshiro (RTEAN), Mr. Atiku Zailani Ahmed, (NARTO), Mr. Chiaka Nwaogu, (AMATO), Mrs. Auta KSG (Ministry of Commerce), Dr. Eugene Nweke (Freight Forwarders), and a representative of STOAN.
While Mrs. M.N. Ozonweke, AD (ICD) FMOT, was appointed as its Secretary.
The Committee according to the Minister is mandated to develop a workable road map for effective release and smooth flow of Dry Ports bound containers/cargoes to and fro the countries seaports, developing a standard cargo clearance procedure, documentation, including scanning facilities and recommendation of applicable software (Electronic data Interchange), for use and adoption by the Dry Port Concessionaires/Operators at each respective Dry Ports, among several others.
The committee was however, given a 6 months ultimatum to submit its reports and findings
As at Monday June 19th, Ameachi while speaking at the collaborative seminar organised by the Nigerian Shippers Council, NSC, and Inland Container Nigeria Limited, ICNL, said, “The inland Dry Port, has the potential benefits of not only reducing transport cost, but bringing shipping to the door steps of the shippers, which will generate employment opportunities to the teeming people and boost the local and national economy”.
The Minister while stressing the importance of Kaduna for the first phase of the project said, Kaduna is the administrative capital of Northern Nigeria, and as a center of commerce and industry, it will enhance the export of huge agricultural trade in local and export volumes.
He said, “It is common knowledge that Kaduna is host to a number of textiles and Argo-allied industries, a motor assembly plant, among others, and therefore a most suitable location for the Inland Dry Depot project”.
Meanwhile, Post-Nigeria gathered that under the leadership of Amaechi, the Ministry of Transport has so far maintained its focus on finding a new course towards completing ongoing projects, such as the completion of rail projects across the country, extending rail lines to several parts, ensuring a smooth working relationship with the Minister of State for Aviation for the development of the sector, fulfilling President Buhari’s change agenda, combating corruption and always playing by rule.
0 comments:
Post a Comment