Pius Ukeyima Akutah, Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, has said that the Administration of President Bola Tinubu is committed to completing and operationalising the Jos Inland Dry Port located in Heipang, Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State.
Akutah made this known on Wednesday in Jos, during a facility inspection tour of the Dry Port, where he emphasised its strategic importance to boosting exports and enhancing internally-generated revenue for both Plateau State and the Federal Government.
Speaking with journalists after the inspection, Akutah noted that the Jos Inland Dry Port, gazetted in 2006 as one of Nigeria’s legacy projects, was designed under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) framework.
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“It may interest you to note that the IDP in Heipang, Jos is one of the Legacy Project gazetted in 2006 and be developed on a Private Public Partnership (PPP) basis”, he said.
He assured that the Federal Government, through relevant Ministries, would act swiftly to ensure the project’s completion and take-off.
Salihu Mohammed, Plateau Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, who accompanied the Shippers’ Council boss during the inspection, reaffirmed the State’s readiness to ensure the Dry Port become functional soon.
He revealed that discussions were ongoing with potential investors to partner in operationalising the facility.
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During a stakeholders’ meeting held alongside the tour, Akutah urged business owners in the State to make effective use of the North-Central Zonal Office of the Shippers’ Council to boost trade.
He decried the low number of mega businesses in Nigeria and reiterated the council’s readiness to support importers and exporters.
“I wish to enjoin all industry stakeholders within Plateau state and North Central Zone to ensure optimal utilisation of our services to benefit maximally in the course of their shipping and logistics”, he added.
