FG To Revamp Inland Dry Ports In 6 Geo-Political Zones

The Federal Government has announced its intention to revamp the nation’s inland dry port in the six political zones.

The Minister of Transport, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, who disclosed this in Abuja, yesterday, said the government would support the maritime sector of the economy.

Amaechi assured inland dry port concessionaires after a closed door meeting with them, that the Federal Government was committed to doing whatever it would take for concessionaires to meet and surmount challenges confronting them.

The Minister also said the Federal Ministry of Transport would be glad to meet with state governors in order to win their support for the inland dry port project.

“We have assured them (concessionaires) that we will do whatever it takes to assist them conclude their investments. The Federal Government will do that.

“As far as the Federal Ministry of Transport is concerned, they have had some challenges. Those ones that pertain to the state governments, we will be glad to meet with the state governors for them to render their own support,” he said.

“The government is trying to revamp the economy and the concessionaires are a great part of the process.”

Speaking on the viability of the inland dry port project, the Minister said after de-congesting the waterways, the project would bring goods and services closer to importers as they will not have to be in Lagos to receive their cargoes.

He also said the project would shorten time and distance as well as revamp the local economies in the states where the ports would be situated.

In his contributions, Executive Secretary of Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Hassan Bello, said the council would oversee, supervise, and superintend the inland dry ports project carried out by the concessionaires, adding that the council was working to meet the challenges faced by the concessionaires.