17 Years After Inauguration, Jos Inland Container Depot In Limbo

Seventeen years after the inauguration of the Jos Inland Container Depot (JICD) Heipang in Barki Ladi LGA of Plateau State by former head of state Gen. Yakubu Gowon, the project is yet to commence operation in the state.

The JICD covers over 33,000-hectare of land and when completed will create over 5,000 jobs. The host communities will benefit while the state government will generate huge revenue as a result of commercial activities within the terminal.

The Jos site, if completed will serve shippers from Kaduna, Nasarawa and Benue states and others within Nigeria and neighbouring land locked countries, which use Nigeria as a transit point for the movement of their cargoes.

Duncan Container Dry Port Limited the concessionaire was given a presidential approval for the construction of Jos Inland Dry Port in 2006.

It was gathered that the Jos Dry Port will receive containerised and other cargoes basically by rail from Lagos or Port-Harcourt, it will also handle export cargoes from Plateau State and other neighbouring states.

The dry port will ensure that businessmen in Jos have the privilege to receive their goods in Jos as against travelling to Lagos or Port-Harcourt to clear and take delivery of their cargoes.

Above all, the project will not only generate employment but will also stimulate many new businesses and industries within the border.

It will also enhance export cargo consolidation for onward transportation to the seaport. Truck haulage from ICD to consignees will engage several trucks and drivers, freight forwarders and clearing agents, customs and policemen will also be present at the site.

The Jos Inland container depot JICD suffered a great setback in 2014 when the site was demolished by governor Jonah Jang’s administration in August 2014 before Duncan Maritime International commenced works again.

In 2021, Plateau State government under the leadership of Barr. Simon Lalong had formally taken over the ownership of the Jos Inland Container Depot from Duncan Maritime Ventures Nig. Ltd.

The Memorandum of Agreement signifying the change in ownership was signed between the Plateau State government and Chief Godfrey Bawa, managing director of Duncan Ventures at a cost of N2.2 billion based on its economic benefits.

The Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) is the parastatal under the Federal Ministry of Transportation statutorily vested with the responsibility of protecting and defending the interest of all Nigerian Shippers and importers/exporters throughout the transport value chain.

Speaking on the development at the Jos Inland Container Depot (JICD), the North Central Coordinator of Nigerian Shippers Council, Mr Bestu Philimon Yusuf said sometime ago, work on Jos Inland Container Depot had come to standstill, adding that it got to a certain stage that the concessionaire said he can no longer continue with the project because of lack of funds.

According to him, at that point the Plateau State Government decided to buy it over from the concessionaire.

“Government alone cannot do it. What we agreed at that time is that when the government buys from the concessionaire, they should look for another concessionaire or investor who is going to develop the place, manage it over sometime and hand it over to the government,” he said.

He further stressed, “But after buying it from Duncan International, they have been talking of looking for investors all this while, they have not been able to bring even one up till now. So, I came here towards the end of the immediate past administration, this new government has just been sworn in. We have sent an interim report on what has happened till date to the present government.

“There was an implementation committee which was supposed to look at every stage of development and see that what is on paper is what is on ground to the point of completion. The committee has submitted its report because the Nigerian Shippers Council is the secretary of that committee and hopefully, we have met some of the people that are close to the governor before their inauguration.

“We are trying our best to see that this project is completed. Plateau State Government needs to get a new concessionaire, Nigerian Shippers Council needs to encourage them to get a concessionaire who will complete the project in-view of its importance to the people.”

Unfortunately, since the Plateau State government bought over the site in 2021 it has remained in comatose. LEADERSHIP observed that only a few security personnel were seen at the gate of the massive complex. It is however hoped that the present administration of Barr. Caleb Mutfwang will give it the necessary attention it deserves in view of its economic importance to the state in particular and North Central as a whole.