There indication that the Kaduna Dry Port has been completed and is set to commence operation after final inspection in June. The Kaduna port which is the first to be completed in the country is designed for exports, so that locally produced goods from Nigeria can be exported to other parts of the world.
Rail transportation is vital to the successful operation of dry ports and the city of Kaduna, being a major rail terminal is well position to facilitate activities of the port.
The Executive Secretary of Nigeria’s Shippers council, Hassan Bello, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja, that the Kaduna port has been completed.
Bello said that the Federal Ministry of Transportation would embark on the final inspection of the completed Kaduna Dry Port in June to ensure that it meets international standard.
He said that the first inspection was undertaken by the Shippers council to ensure that everything was properly done ahead of the second and final inspection to be carried out by the transport ministry.
“The inspection is to ensure that it meets international standard, in terms of security, accessibility; having access to roads, in terms of pavement and also warehouse for both import and export.
“And also provision of offices for regulatory authorities like Customs, Shippers council and Traffic management.
“This dry port is the only one for now in Nigeria for exports; goods can be exported to other part of the world to diversify the economy, “Bello said.
The shippers council executive secretary, expressed the hope that all ports would be linked to rail lines as railway was vital to the success of dry ports, a major consideration for sighting the Kaduna port.
NAN reports that work on the Kaduna dry port, funded by the Shippers council and Kaduna State Government, lasted for three years.
