The governor of Borno State, Babagana Zulum, on Wednesday, said that the Jauri Inland Dry Port located in Maiduguri, Borno State capital, would be ready in six months.
Zulum disclosed this during a meeting with the executive secretary of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), Pius Akutah, the concessionaire of Jauri Island Dryport, Migfor Nig. Limited and the management of Maiduguri Bonded Terminal Ltd, held at the headquarters of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council in Apapa, Lagos.
According to the governor, by establishing inland dry ports, the state would tackle the issue of unemployment among its youth.
“I want to assure you of the speedy process of establishing an inland dry port in Maiduguri. Establishing the inland dry port in Maiduguri will bring a lot of opportunities to the government and people of Borno state. One employment generation, which would take away thousands of young children off the street, is very important,” Zulum stated.
According to him, the platform would also enhance cross-border trade and the state’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
“We are trying to divert our attention from mono-economy, which is oil by investing in other opportunities. I think Nigeria will be great soon. This is what we are looking for, the relationship between our border countries would be enhanced the economy of the nation will grow very well and our gross domestic product will increase,”
Speaking of rail connectivity to the IDP, Zulum added that the federal government is working to ensure the rehabilitation of rail lines.
“President Bola Ahmed’s initiatives are in the process of rehabilitating all the roads, and thousands of trucks are entering Maiduguri daily. So, that will not be a problem. The establishment of the road system will fast track the process but in the absence of rail, an efficient and effective road transportation system is in place,” Zulum concluded.
Earlier, in his remarks, the executive secretary of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Pius Akutah, said the importance of Borno state as a border town to three countries, can’t be overemphasised.
Akutah stated that having an inland dry port in the state would boost international trade between Nigeria and other countries under the African Continental Free Trade Area, “which Nigeria opened its borders to the whole of Africa into one market,”
“You cannot overemphasise the need to have this kind of critical infrastructure in a place like Maiduguri, Borno State that has a boundary with three countries within the area,” Akutah said.
“When he said six months, I believed him, and I knew the work would be done,” he said.
He said that the transit park area developed in the state has one of the critical infrastructures to service the IDP.
The NSC boss stated that the essence of the initiative, which will be a public-private partnership, is not for the government to drive the day-to-day running but for the private sector.
“So the two entities should come together and fast track the process of harmonising and agree among themselves. So the Excellency can be able to achieve this,” he concluded.
