The Nigeria Shippers’ Council has said that implementing the proposed inland dry ports in the North East would attract imports and exports from neighbouring African countries around the region, further boosting the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
The Executive Secretary and CEO of the Council, Dr. Pius Ukeyima Akutah, said this in Bauchi on Tuesday during a meeting with stakeholders from North East on regional integration for shipping activities.
Akutah expressed satisfaction over the region’s contribution to exportation, which he said is one of the present administration’s goals to boost the nation’s resources through the blue economy.
He said that he has heard so much about the development of inland dry ports in the region, saying that Bauchi State has been working on the inland dry port over the years. “If I’m not mistaken, the approval was given during President Obasanjo’s presidency, and it has been there.
“About 70% work has been done on the initial stages. We are gearing towards getting to the point where the implementation committee can be set up, and then we’ll begin to go into that phase. Borno State is also working towards developing an inland dry port. And the governor of the state graciously paid us a visit at our office in Lagos. One of about three governors that has ever visited the Council in Lagos.
“The development of an inland dry port, I see competition rising. Gombe State also talked about inland dry ports. So, I see a competition swelling up here. Well, it’s not the first time. We also have three inland dry ports in the Northwest. We have in Kano, in Kaduna, and in Katsina. Maybe we are going to repeat that in the Northeast. Well, there’s nothing wrong with that.”
Akutah said that it is crucial to put critical infrastructure in place to attract import and export activities where countries like Niger, Cameroon and Chad can benefit via the North East Nigeria.
The Council boss said the demand for inland dry ports in the North-East is coming at a time when Nigeria has signed into AfCFTA. “By joining that, automatically, we have joined a full package of 1.3 billion people. Our major advantage has been the most populous black nation on Earth.”
Shippers from Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba, and Yobe expressed their challenges and urged the Council to proffer a solution to encourage shipping businesses across the region.
Bauchi State commissioners for Commerce and Industry, Salis Gamawa, and his counterpart in Works and Transport, Engr. Titus Saul Ketkuka were in attendance with stakeholders in commerce and industry.
