Nigeria Shippers Council mobilises Stakeholders on Export Value Chain

The Director- General of the Nigeria Shippers Council, Kogi State Chapter, Mr. Edwin Ignatius has urged stakeholders in Export Value Chain to work together for early take-off of Harris Logistics Domestic Export Warehouse in Lokoja.

Mr. Ignatius gave the advice at a meeting with critical stakeholders on the Export Value Chain after inspecting ongoing work at the Harris Logistics Domestic Export Warehouse and Dry Port on Friday in Lokoja.

He called on the stakeholders to strive towards the early completion of the Port, saying “if operational it would create employment and other opportunities.”

The dry Port stakeholders were called at the instance of the Shippers Council of Nigeria including the CBN, Kogi Enterprises Development Agency, Shippers Association, Manufacturing Association of Nigeria, Nigeria Association of Small Scale Industrialists (NASSI), Kogi State Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture, Zenith and United Bank of Africa plc.

Mr. Ignatius said that the Dry Port in Lokoja, which is amongst the 12 dry ports that is ongoing in the Country and if completed, would assist in cargo consolidation, thus bringing down the cost of doing business.

The Director General noted that the advantages of the Port were enormous and urged all the stakeholders to do everything humanly possible to make it operational.

He urged the relevant stakeholders to make a commitment that would make the Dry Port operational and described the location of Kogi State as one that has made the Nigerian government to locate two Ports in Lokoja and Ajaokuta.

Mr. Ignatius expressed satisfaction with the quality of work and equipment at the Dry Port, and promised that the Shippers Council would strive towards ensuring standard procedures that would ease the cost of doing business and its early takeoff.

He called for the political will at both the Nigerian and state government levels, as well as those of the other relevant stakeholders in the value chain that would lead to the early take-off of the Port.

He lauded Harris Logistics Domestic Export Warehouse for the stage the Warehouse has attained.

The Head Development Finance Officer, CBN Hassan Hassan, expressed the commitment of the bank to the actualisation of the Port’s take-off.

Mr. Hassan commended Harris Logistics Domestic Export Warehouse for investing in the project with state-of-the-art modern equipment.

He assured them of workable collaboration with the relevant stakeholders on the need for more engagement that would ensure the take-off of the Port.

The Trade Promotion Adviser, Nigerian Export Promotion Council, Kogi State, Hajia Amina Abdulmalik, said having seen some of the noticed challenges limiting the take-off of the Port. He promised to liaise with the appropriate authorities that would enable the take-off of the Port.

Speaking at the meeting, the Chairman and CEO of Harris Logistics Domestic Export Warehouse, Mohammed Olufemi, said “the Dry Port is at 95% completion, which is almost ready for Commissioning.”

Mr. Mohammed said when operational the Port would help the tackle the challenges faced by Exporters in the region, particularly, Exporters of perishable goods and Solid Minerals for the North Central zone.

He said with the end of oil export, the need to boost other export commodities cannot be over-emphasised, as it would greatly reduce the ease of doing business as envisaged by the Nigerian Government.

In their separate remarks, the representatives of the Shippers Association, KEDA, NASSI, ZENITH, UBA and KOCCIMA all pledged their commitment to the early completion of the Port project.

Highlights of the visit were facility inspection by the stakeholders who were taken round Bay 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 of the Port. The Bay include Temperature Control Warehouse (cold room), Agric Produce Storage (grains, cashew), Solid Minerals, and Agric Produce amongst others.

Mercy Chukwudiebere