We Want To Grow Our IGR Through IDP, SEZ

Harboursandport.com: Lagos - Kano state government say they intend to grow the state Internally Generated Revenue, IGR through the development of Inland Dry Port, IDP and the Special Economic Zone in the state.

Executive Governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Umar Ganduja

Kano state governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, who disclosed this on Friday in Lagos during a courtesy visit the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers Council, NSC, Hassan Bello over the planned development of Dala Inland Dry Port, DIDP and the SEZ, said that the state also intends to attract cargo from neighbouring countries.

Ganduje said that the state government “appreciates the importance of the IDP to the economy of the state and also its importance to both neighbouring states in Nigeria and our neighbouring landlocked neighbours such as Niger Republic, Chad, Northern Cameroon and the rest of Sahel Africa up to Mauritania.”

To ensure that the project becomes a reality, the governor said that the state “has provided the 200 hectres of virgin land free of encumbrances required for the two integrated projects.

“We also provided critic infrastructure required for the project, amongst which are; construction of standard dual carriage access road to the project site, provision of power and water to the site as well as other essential support of propagating the project and promoting it both for marketing and obtaining support from appropriate government agencies.”

In his welcome address, Shippers Council boss had commended the Kano state government for spending about N2.4 billion on the access road, water, electricity supply, perimeter fencing and others to drive the development of the facility.

Bello explained that the Council is working hard at ensuring that every new port in the country should be modern, stressing that NSC is not expecting any less from the Kano project.

He pointed out that the IDP at completion will have the capacity to handle about 20,000 metric tonne which is expected to increase to 50,000 and 80,000 in three and five years time.

Bello also disclosed that a Task Team comprising Federal Ministry of Transport, NSC, a representative of the Kano state government and DIDP to ensure the actualisation of the project.

Similarly, Managing Director of DIDP, Ahmed Rabiu, said that his company is determined to bring the project to fruitfulness as a result of the economic benefit to the country and the state.

He commended the state governor and the shippers' council boss for their efforts so far to ensure that work on the project is progressing.