By Abba Dukawa
Kano State Government has said that it contributed about N2.5 billion for the construction of access roads, perimeter fencing, electricity and other social amenities to Dala Inland Dry Port project in order to ensure its speedy completion.
Kano State Acting Governor, Alhaji Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna who disclosed this when Minister of Transportation, Alhaji Mu’azu Jaji Sambo paid a familiarisation visit to Dry Port’s Office at Zawaciki in Kumbotso Local Government Area of the state today.
He added that the state government made sure that the project becomes a reality through provision of enabling environment because it would lead to economic development not only for Kano and its neighbouring States but also for Niger, Cameroon and Chad Republics.
Gawuna while reading the speech of the governor further said Kano is the commercial and investment nerve centre of Northern Nigeria and the largest non oil and gas economy in the country with a GDP of approximately $12 billion making it potentially viable for investors.
He noted that the project is meant for harnessing the resource potentials of the state towards improving the livelihood of the teeming populace, adding that this becomes necessary given the fact that the crude oil revenue on which the country depends has tremendously dropped.
” Dala Inland Dry Port was initiated to act as a catalyst to improve trade flows,boost Inland trading and revitalise export of agricultural products leading to multi product economy,” he said.
In his address the minister while declaring the port as Port of Origin and Destination, said Kano with sizeable number of textiles, agro allied and several manufacturing industries not only suited but most qualified for an Inland dry port.
According to him the dry port was conceived as part of the Federal Government’s port reform programme designed to decongest the sea ports while also taking shipping and port services closer to importers and exporters in the hinterland, however Dala Inland Dry Port that started many years ago has now come fruition.
He therefore called on the business ommunity and investors to take full advantage of facility for the import and export of their cargoes.
In his remarks, the port Chairman, Alhaji Abubakar Sahabo Bawuro explained that the board resolved from the inception to develop a facility that would function as an efficient digital and regulatory compliant port that would minimise contact between cargo and man.
He added that the position of Dala Inland Dry Port is unique and that caused its introduction in the linkage made by the Federal Government in the standard gauge railway line to link Maradi in Niger Republic through the port from Lagos.
“At the moment, the narrow gauge railway line is fully connected the port and tested. It can provide the services required from Lagos to Kano and the second leg to destinations in Niger Republic can be completed by road,” he said.
He however commended the Federal Government and the state Governor Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje for their support towards making the project a reality
