By Adedapo Adesanya
The federal government has concluded plans to officially inaugurate the much-anticipated Funtua Inland Dry Port in Katsina State as part of efforts to diversify port structures and bring shipping and port services closer to importers and exporters in the hinterland.
In a statement signed by Mrs Rebecca Adamu, an Assistant Director in charge of public relations of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), the Executive Secretary of the council, Mr Pius Akutah, said the Funtua Inland Dry Port will be commissioned by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at Funtua IDP Project Site, Katsina State soon.
He added that this significant milestone, marks a pivotal moment of the council’s commitment in facilitating trade in Nigeria.
Mr Akutah also said that the project was in line with the performance bond between the Council and the Honourable Minister of Marine & Blue Economy, His Excellency, Adegboyega Oyetola.
He explained that the initiative is part of council’s Key Performance Indicator (KPI) to deliver the Funtua Inland Dry Port Project before the end of the 1st quarter of 2024.
“The establishment of the Inland Dry Ports being promoted by the Council will among other things bring shipping and port services closer to the importers and exporters at the hinterland, decongest the Seaports, create job opportunities, improve and accrue huge revenue to the Government,” he said.
Recall that in February, 2023, the federal government under the administration of then president, Mr Muhammadu Buhari, declared Funtua IDP as a Port of Origin and Destination which paved the way for importers and exporters to officially consign their cargo from Funtua to any part of the world.
This is the third in the series by the Federal Government to commission the Inland Dry Ports in the nation. The first was the commissioning of Kaduna Inland Dry Port in 2018 and Dala Inland Dry Port in 2023 respectively.
Modupe Gbadeyanka