Kano government to complete $27m Inland Dry Port in December

The Managing Director, Dala Inland Dry Port,  Alhaji Ahmed Rabiu, in Kano State, disclosed that the inland port will cost $27 million and would be completed fully in December.

The inland port MD disclosed this during an inspection of the port, in the Kumbotso Local Government Area of the state, citing that the first phase should be ready by June 2021.

He added that the Kano State Government has also spent N2.3 billion for the construction of access road, perimeter fence, electricity and water supply at the site which was birthed by the Federal Government 20 years ago and designated a Special Economic Zone.

“We are going to compete favourably with Lagos in terms of revenue generation and also reduce the loss of containers while in transit between Lagos and Kano.

“When completed, the cost of transportation will drastically reduce because while it costs about N1.2 million to take containers from Lagos to Kano by road, it will cost not more than N200,000 by rail.

“Containers berthed at the Lagos ports will be transported on the old rail lines to Kano in 24 hours, just as the project will enhance the reactivation of trans-Sahara commercial activities,’’ he said.

Earlier reports stated that the National Inland Water Ways Authority has made public its intention to move 1000 containers from Lagos to Onitsha river port. The agency said it is targeting about 1,000 containers to be hauled per trip from Lagos ports to Onitsha River Port within the maximum duration of 4 days.

The Federal Government through the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE)  announced plans to concession the Tafawa Balewa Trade Fair Complex, Lagos International Trade Fair Complex (LITFC), Calabar Special Economic Zone (SEZ) and Kano Special Economic Zone (SEZ).

Suzan O/NAN/Nairametrics