From Andrew Ajijah, Jos.
The Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Shippers Council, Dr. Pius Ukeyima Akutah, has announced that the administration of President Bola Tinubu will complete and operationalize the uncompleted Jos Inland Dry Port in Heipang, Barkinladi Local Government Area of Plateau State.
During an on-the-spot assessment of the dry port Wednesday, Dr. Akutah stated that its completion will boost individual export businesses, revenue generation for the North Central states and the Federal Government. He pledged to brief the relevant ministries and convey the message to the President for action.
“It may interest you to note that the inland Dry Port (IDP) in Heipang, Jos is one of the legacy Project gazetted in 2006 and to be developed on Private Public Partnership (PPP) basis.”
The Plateau State Commissioner of Commerce and Industry, Hon. Salihu Mohammed, assured that the dry port will be completed soon, revealing that the state government is in talks with an investor to partner and facilitate its launch.
In a stakeholders’ meeting after the on-the-spot assessment, Dr. Akutah emphasized the need for effective utilization of the North Central Zonal Office of the Shippers Council to facilitate business growth. He noted that the council plays a critical role in ensuring efficiency, ease of doing business, and setting standards in ports and logistics.
“I wish to enjoin all industry stakeholders within Plateau state and North Central Zone to ensure optimal utilization of our services to benefit maximally in the cause of their shipping and logistics businesses.”
The Coordinator of the North Central Zonal Coordinating Office of the Shippers Council, Jeremiah Okoriko, expressed concern that while three inland dry ports in the North Western zone are functional, the one in the North Central zone remains dormant.
Stakeholders identified insecurity, unstable electricity supply, high transportation costs, and lack of functional railway transport as major challenges hindering the manufacturing industry and dry port operations.
