Pius Akutah, the executive secretary/chief executive officer, Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC), the country’s ports economic regulator, has observed that the proposed Inland Dry Port at Ntigha, in Isiala Ngwa North Local Government Area of Abia State, when constructed, will create jobs and boost the economy of Abia State, and other States in the South-East and neighbouring States in the South-South region of the country.
Akutah stated this at an event, tagged “Appreciation day for stakeholders in the South-East region”, organised by the South-East Zonal Directorate of the Council, held last week in Aba, the commercial hub of Abia State.
The NSC boss, who was represented at the event, by Ify Okolue, zonal director, South-South Zone of the Nigerian Shippers Council, noted that the Ntigha Dry Port when realised has the potential to be the most viable of all the dry ports in the Country and appealed to shippers and other stakeholders to support the NSC and Eastgate Inland Container Limited, the concessionair, to realize the project.
He stated that the establishment of IDPs would enhance revenue generation to the Country, as well as the host States, stimulate agricultural production for exports, thereby ensuring economic diversification and ensure generation of employment opportunities for youths, stemming insecurity and other criminalities.
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Akutah said that the proposed Inland Dry Port at Ntigha entrusted to Eastgate Inland Container Limited through a concession, is one of the six legacy projects of the Federal Government.
Other gazetted inland dry ports in Nigeria are Heipang, Jos, Plateau State; Funtua, Katsina State; Dala, Kano State; Jauri, Maiduguri, Borno State and Erunmu, Ibadan in Oyo State.
The Inland Dry Port projects are being nurtured through public-private partnership (PPP), leveraging the innovative build, own, operate and transfer (BOOT) model.
The NSC chief executive appreciated the contributions of the awardees to the success of the NSC in the region and urged them to continue in that stride.
Michael Akpara, commissioner for Industry/Small and Medium Enterprises, Abia State, who was also an awardee, attributed his recognition to the achievements of Governor Alex Otti in less than 2 years in office.
He said that the Ministry of Industry/SME is making sure that there is a conducive environment for businesses to thrive.
“You can attest to the fact that there is no longer double taxation in Abia, particularly in Aba. We now have good roads, Port Harcourt road is ready for commissioning, and there is security of lives and properties in Aba and Abia”, he stated.
Akpara, who was represented, by Chukwudi Ogbonna, director, Industry in the Ministry, said that Governor Alex Otti, through the Ministry of Industry and SMEs had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Bank of Industry (BoI) for ₦10 billion matching fund for micro business and SMEs in the State.
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He said that the fund is a single-digit loan that would support and upscale businesses in the state.
Lilian King, zonal director, NSC, South-East Zone, earlier in her welcome address, explained that the event was put together to celebrate stakeholders, who through their activities have supported the Nigerian Shippers Council, South-East Zone (SEZ) to function well.
She said, “We are here to celebrate 10 people who have consistently made an impact, continually without Shippers Council support. They continued to fight, they continued with our mandate, they spent their money, they gave their time, they believed in us even when we were not really colourful, and today we want to say thank you. We appreciate you”.
BusinessDay’s Godfrey Ofurum was one of the 10 stakeholders honoured at the event.
