Stakeholders Seek Connection Of Rail Line To Inland Dry Port

Stakeholders have called for the need to connect all rail lines to the Inland Dry Port for optimal utilisation.

Speaking at the sideline of the International Trade Fair, at Abuja Chamber of Commerce in Abuja on Monday, the CEO, Gasha Production and Services ltd, Dr Nuhu Maksha said, “I would say that if we don’t get the rail line correct, the idea of dry port will be defected. I am interested in seeing how the Shippers’ Council will help farmers like me to transfer my goods without the stress of the road.

“This is why the establishment of the Inland Dry Port is a dream come true because it would reduce the stress of moving containers on the road but I would say that if we don’t get the rail line connected to the Inland Dry Port, the idea of Dry Port will be defected as there are no sea connecting them across the country.”

He expressed satisfaction with the creation of the ministry Marine and Blue Economy dedicated to maritime and said with this, the business of importation and exportation will be improved.

Also speaking at the Trade Fair, the zonal vice president for Northwest, Nigeria Association of Small and Medium Enterprises, Dr Nura Bello called for removal of bureaucratic bottlenecks in exportation processes in order to achieve the ease of doing business in Nigeria.

He urged more engagement between the Shippers’ Council and the small and medium enterprises.

He expressed satisfaction with his engagement with the Shippers’ Council at the Trade Fair, noting that the council has boasted his morals about the business of exportation.

Meanwhile, the deputy director, National Engineering Development Institute, Nnewi, Engr. Nkiru Obasi urged the Nigerian Shippers’ Council to engage in more trade fairs because they have a lot to teach Nigerians about exportation and importance especially now that the country needs more forex.

The International Trade Fair in Abuja, had in attendance, the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Central Bank of Nigeria, Nigeria Communication Commission, Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, among others.