The Nigerian Shippers Council on Wednesday said that Dala Inland Dry Port in Kano State will boost trade and reduce barriers to international transaction.
The Chief Executive Officer and the Executive Secretary of NSC, Mr. Hassan Bello, in a statement sighted by Financial Street, explained that the dry port would complement the Kano–Katsina–Jibiya–Maradi rail line and the Lagos–Kano Standard Gauge, which will be integrated into the project.
Bello added that the project would decongest the ports and enhance the Africa Free Continental Trade Agreement.
His words, “The location of the dry port would boost trade and reduce barriers to international trade.
“NSC has consistently provided support to the concessionaires within the confines of the implementation guidelines and extant regulations.”
According to the NSC boss, the project is expected to reduce transport cost.
“The dry port project is expected to create value for money by reducing transport cost and time in the movement of cargo to the hinterland, while increasing accessibility to Nigeria’s landlocked neighbours in the North,” he added.
The Dala Inland Dry Port project, which was concessioned in 2006 along with six other inland dry ports, has suffered setbacks such as the lack of accessibility to long-term funding, lack of support from previous governments and regulatory gaps that existed when the concession was initiated.
However, in 2018, the project received a boost when it found new investors.
Skeletal services are expected to commence by June 2021.
