‘Dala Dry Port to reduce cost of haulage’- Transport Minister

The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi has hinted that the Kano Dala Dry Port project will reduce the cost of haulage and bring shipping facilities closer to the hinter land.

Amaechi noted that the Dry port will among other things bring shipping activities closer to shippers in the hinterland and increase cargoes output, act as a catalyst for improved trade flows, boost inland trading.

He made the disclosure during the unveiling of the logo of Dala Dry Port, Kano Economic and Diaspora Investment Summit in Abuja.

He said the Dala Inland Dry Port in Zawachiki would be linked to the Lagos-Kano Standard Gauge Rail line under construction as well as the Narrow Gauge already in existence, adding that “the port will revitalize export of agricultural products thus leading to multi-product economy; create employment opportunities that would ultimately stem rural urban migration and act as source of Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) to the host state as well as revenue source to the federal government.”

Represented by the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Dr. Magdalene Ajani, the Minister noted that a State with sizable number of textiles and agro-allied industries, a Motor Assembly Plant, hides and skin industries and several manufacturing plants deserves an Inland Dry Port.

He however assured the business community and intending investors that that the federal government was committed to linking all Dry Ports with rail lines for optimum utilisation and efficiency.

While Unveiling the Logo and Theme of the Dry Port, the Kano State Governor, Mallam Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, in a virtual presentation said the unveiling is prelude to Kano Economic Investment summit which will showcase the Dala Dry Port as a major transport infrastructure and other sector like the Kano economic city that will stimulate industrialisation and commerce.

ThisDay