By Adeyinka Adeniran
The Federal Government has called for the collaboration of all stakeholders in the maritime and Blue Sea Economy to ensure the speedy completion of the Ibadan Inland Dry Port.
The Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Shippers Council, Mr Pius Akutah made the call on Wednesday after a tour of the facility in Erunmu, Ibadan, the Oyo State capital city.
Addressing stakeholders at an enlarged meeting which held at the Seminar Room, International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Akutah said the facility tour and subsequent meeting was in line with the directive of Mr President to meet all stakeholders in a bid to identifying the challenges and issues affecting the completion of the project.
He said, President Tinubu recognised the importance of the Inland Dry Port which necessitated the recent commissioning of Funtua Dry port and the subsequent marching orders on meeting all parties and stakeholders to identify all hindrances and challenges against the projects completion, years after it was flagged off.
According to the ES, the Inland dry ports infrastructure is one of the key infrastructure that will drive the Renewed Hope Agenda for the country, adding that the team was on ground in Ibadan not just to come and watch what is going on and go back but solicit for support of the stakeholders including residents, community leaders, importers, exporters, policy makers, traditional rulers, concessioners among others.
He added that the government needs all hands to be on the deck so that going forward, it can carry out what is expected to make sure that the Ibadan Inland Dry Point comes to fruition.
Akutah said, “This is one of the legacy ports. I am glad that the concessionaires as well as the community are here. You will recall that the Funtua Dry port was recently commissioned by Mr President.
“Shortly after that, the Honourable Minister for Marine and Blue Economy, His Excellency Adegboyega Oyetola directed that the president has instructed firmly that all the other inland dry ports should quickly be looked into with the aim to facilitating their quick development.
“That is the major reason we are here today. We are here to take a look at what is happening here and interact with you and the concessionaire and see what actually are the issues that this Inland Dry port has not taken off more than about 20 percent so far and to see what we can do in harmony to quickly facilitate the development of this Inland Dry port in accordance with the marching order of Mr President.
“We understand the importance of Inland Dry Port project. This projects are meant to decongest the seaports and take shipping services closer to shippers in the hinterlands. And we know that this zone is one of the major industrial zones of this country where a lot of activities are going on.”
He said further, “So having an Inland Dry Port located here will actually help in decongesting the seaports and bringing about efficiency that this government is looking at.
“We are here not to speak too much grammar; we are here to see what we can do to carry out the directive of Mr President to ensure that work returns here and these activities go on here to the completion and commissioning of this port.
“The concessionaires are here; we will talk after we take a brief look at what is put on ground already and we will return to the office and call all of us together to see the way forward, and this will be done in a very short time for us to move on with this project.
“I thank you for your cooperation and understanding with the Nigerian Shippers Council. You have been very understand and cooperated with us a lot. Some communities may not be as peaceful as yours is and your yearnings and desire to have this Inland Dry Port also shows that you are really willing to help this country to develop, grow very fast and Mr President is committed to looking at the economy from this perspective of the non-oil sector.
“So, this infrastructure is one of the key infrastructure that will drive his Renewed Hope Agenda for this country. We are here not just to come and watch what is going on here and go back but we need your support, we need all hands to be on deck so that going forward, we shall carry out what we are expected to carry out to make sure that this Inland Dry Point come to fruition.”
