By Akinola Ajibade
The Federal Government says that it has concluded arrangements to move shipping and port services closer to importers and exporters in the hinterland with a view to encourage economic growth.
The government plans to carry out this functions through its inland cry ports across the country.
The government said this through its Minister of Transportation Mu'azu Jaji Sambo, while commissioning Dala Inland Dry Port in Kano State recently.
Sambo , in a statement issued by the Ministry Director of Press and Public Relations, Henshaw Ogbuike and made available to News Mirror, said that importers and exporters of goods would not have problems accessing their products from foreign countries soon.
According to him, the government has established many Inland Dry Ports across the country, adding that those ports would help in taking goods shopped from Europe or those exported to their owners in Nigeria..
Continuing further, Sambo said that the Inland Dry Ports Projects will help decongest the seaports and also take shipping and port services closer to importers and exporters in the hinterland.
He advised national and international maritime practitioners, shippers, shipping companies landlocked countries and port users to take full advantage of the Inland Dry Ports for imports and exports.
He said the Inland Dry Port initiative was conceived as part of the Federal Government’s ports reform programme and is to be sited at chosen locations across the country.
According to him, six Inland Dry Ports approved by the Federal Executive Council would be concessioned to private sector operators on Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) with the strategic framework to build, own, operate and then transfer the projects to the government.
He commended the President Buhari-led Federal Government for its effort at developing critical infrastructure in the country, especially in the transportation sector, adding that such effort will stand as a testimony for future generations.
The Minister said that the port which was concessioned to Messrs Dala Inland Dry Port Nigeria Limited, will be a Customs port in accordance with the provisions of the Customs and Excise Management Act, Cap. C45 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and shall have all the pre-requisites of an international port.
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