By Hauwa Ali
The Federal Government has declared Dala Inland Dry Port (IDP) in Kano a port of origin for export and final destination for good coming into the country through her seaports.
Minister of Transportation, Mu’azu Sambo, disclosed this while making the declaration at the site of the port in the Zawachiki area of Kano State over the weekend.
Sambo disclosed that the dry port was granted approval by the Federal Executive Council and that all the steps are underway for the official commissioning of the port later in the year by President Muhammadu Buhari.
According to him, the approval of port was part of government’s reform program to promote efficient transportation, decongest the seaports and bring shipping and ports services closer to importers and exporters.
“In today’s new global economy, speed to the markets with finished goods, lower shipping costs are the main drivers more than ever before,” he said.
The minister said Kano qualifies to host the dry port because it is the commercial capabilities.
“The state has a sizeable number of textile and agro-allied industries, assembly plants amongst others and several manufacturing industries. It is not only suited but most qualified,” he said.
The minister explained that businessmen in Kano or the nearby states no longer have to take their goods to Lagos as they can use the dry port, and the goods can also be exported to any part of the world from Kano.
Governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Ganduje, represented by his Deputy, Nasiru Yusuf Gowuna, said that Kano remains the largest non-oil and gas economy in the country with an estimated $12 billion market size driven by commerce, manufacturing and subsistence agriculture.
He noted that the Dala inland dry port marks the process of harnessing the potentials that abound in the state.
Chairman of the dry port, Abubakar Bawuro, noted that the port will further boost the trans-Saharan trade for which Kano was once a hub.
According to him, Niger, Chad and Cameroun have indicated the desire to use the port.
Sambo therefore called on shipping companies, maritime players, land-locked countries like Chad, Niger and other port users to take full advantage of the Dala IDP for import and export of their cargoes.
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