Kano $27m inland dry port to help traders save N1m per supply -Official

From Mustapha Adamu, Kano

The Kano Inland dry port will help traders save up to N1million per supply of goods from Lagos ports, according to Ahmad Rabi’u, Managing Director, Dala Inland Dry Port.
Speaking to newsmen when he led a media tour round the site on Friday, Rabi’u said goods are normally transported in trucks from Lagos to Kano by road at the rate of about N1.2 million.
According to him, if the dry port project start operations, the goods would be transported through trains at the rate of not more than N200,000, helping traders save up to N1 million.
The MD also stated that the project would provide employment opportunities to the teeming youth in Kano state and its neighborhood, noting that it would also help in bringing peace in northern Nigeria.
He said the project, which was started 20 years ago by the then President Olusegun Obasanjo would gulp $27 million if completed, adding that the first phase would be commissioned before the end of December 2021 at the rate of $17 million.
He said already, the Kano State Government had spent N2.3 billion for the construction of access roads and the provision of electricity and water supply at the site located for the dry port.
He said part of the money was also used for the construction of perimeter fencing of the 200 hectares of land acquired for the project.
“The project, having suffered neglect for 20 years, the Kano State government has for spend N2.3 billion to ensure immediate take off of the project by the end of this year.
“Already, contract is ongoing for the construction of access roads, provision of electricity, water supply and construction of perimeter fencing.
“The project conceptualized 20 years ago by the then President Olusegun Obasanjo, is scheduled to have its first phase of $17 million commissioned before the end of December this year,” he said.
The Managing Director explained that the project which being executed on a 200 hectares of land, was designated to have a special economic zone where about 165 hectares would be used for that purpose. .
“The dry port will have facilities that would take at a go 20,000 containers and 10,000 large containers, with an administrative block and other necessary facilities slated to be completed by December 2021.
“With the building of the roads network fencing of the entire 104 meters of land and provision of water and power for the project, Governor Ganduje is committed to the actualisation of the project.
He said when the project is completed, Kano would compete favorably with Lagos in terms of internally generated revenue in addition to reducing the cost of bringing the containers.
“The project will fully revive the trans Sahara commercial activities and provide jobs to over 20,000 persons when it commence operation,” he added.