The National Assembly has expressed satisfaction with freight operations from Lagos to Kano.
Recall that in June, 2024, the federal government commenced the movement of containers from Lagos to Dala Inland Dry Port in Kano via the narrow gauge.
Speaking on the viability of the dry inland ports in Kaduna and Kano, Senator Adamu Aliero said with the commencement of movement of containers from Lagos to Kaduna and Kano dry island port, the national assembly is satisfied with the project.
He stated this when the joint national assembly members visited Kano on Monday.
Aliero, a one time minister of the FCT and current chairman, senate committee on Land Transport, said:
“Let me start by telling you that this is a joint committee of both the House and also the Senate. So far, we are impressed with what we have seen.
“We have seen a lot of dedication by the ministry and also by the contractor trying to deliver the project in time. We understand that the deadline given to them is 2025 or 2026. But we are hoping that by 2025, if they sustain the tempo, they will be able to deliver.
“There are other challenges connected with the project, particularly the funding arrangement, which we intend to discuss with the DMO, the minister of finance, the attorney general of the federation, and also the minister of transportation. We will do whatever is seemingly possible to ensure that this project is completed in time.”
Meanwhile, the minister of transportation, Sen. Sa’id Alkali assured that the new standard guage rail line is already connected to the inland dry ports in Kaduna and Kano.
When asked about the connection, he said, ” It’s already connected. When you look at the Dala inland dry port, we have both the standard and the narrow gauge connected to the dry port. Not quite long, I was at the Dala dry port to commission the freight from Lagos to Kano as a quick wins on the already existing narrow gauge.
“So that we have both the standard and the narrow gauge connected to Dala inland dry port for freight.”
