President Muhammadu Buhari is to visit Kaduna on Thursday, January 4, where he would commission Nigeria’s first inland dry port located in the Kakuri area of the state.
Daily Trust reports that a statement signed by the director of special duties of the Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC), Mr Ignatius Nweke, noted that the port is among the seven dry ports being promoted by the organisation.
According to the statement, it was built by Kaduna Inland Dry Port Limited and has the capacity to handle 29,000 tonnes of cargoes annually at the first phase of its operation.
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The report said other approved locations for inland dry ports are Isiala Ngwa (Abia state), Erunmu, Ibadan (Oyo state), Heipang (Plateau state), Zawachiki (Kano state), Zamfarawa, Funtua (Katsina state) and Maiduguri (Borno state).
It is also likely to double when fully completed, the statement said adding that it is estimated to generate up to 5000 direct employment at the commencement of operations.
“The Kaduna Dry Port which is the first of its kind in Nigeria would receive cargo from Apapa Port in Lagos, through the railway or by road and also export goods through the same channel,” Nweke said while noting that the establishment of the Inland Container Depots in the hinterland was because of the need to reduce the congestion in Lagos ports and provide relief for the busy Apapa road.
The port is to help provide an easy process for the exportation of farm produce from the Kaduna and neighbouring states as well as landlocked countries.
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According to Nweke, Kaduna state was the largest producer of ginger in the country.
“The market for Kaduna ginger will improve tremendously once the dry port commences full operations on Thursday, 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,” the statement said.
NAIJ.com earlier reported he federal government has expressed its commitment to establish dry ports or Inland Container Depots (ICDs) in the country to create jobs for unemployed youths and diversify the economy.
The minister of transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, said this on Tuesday, June 20 during the final inspection of the Kaduna Inland Dry Port.
“We are doing everything possible to create jobs. Whatever we need to do to get the port running, we will do it," he said.
Source: Naija.ng