The Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) has announced that the Federal Government is set to officially commission the Funtua Inland Dry Port on Thursday, May 9, 2024, in Katsina State.
According to the official statement signed by Assistant Director of Public Relations Unit, Mrs Rebecca Adamu, this event, to be held at the Funtua IDP Project Site at 11:00 a.m. will be graced by His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The commissioning ceremony is expected to attract a host of dignitaries, government officials, and key stakeholders in the maritime and transportation industry. The Funtua Inland Dry Port marks a significant achievement for the Nigerian Shippers’ Council and reflects their ongoing efforts to enhance trade facilitation across Nigeria.
The Executive Secretary. of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Barr. Pius Ukeyima Akutah emphasized that the dry ports initiative aims to bring shipping services closer to importers and exporters in the hinterlands, alleviate congestion at seaports, and generate employment while increasing government revenue.
This development follows the February 2023 designation of Funtua IDP as a Port of Origin and Destination under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari. This designation allows importers and exporters to send their cargo directly from Funtua to global destinations.
The Funtua Inland Dry Port is the third of its kind to be commissioned in Nigeria, following the successful launches of the Kaduna Inland Dry Port in 2018 and the Dala Inland Dry Port i
According to NSC, the project aligns with commitments made by the Minister of Marine & Blue Economy, His Excellency Adegboyega Oyetola, under the performance bond to deliver the port before the end of the first quarter of 2024.
