PHOTOS: Amaechi inaugurates northwest zonal office of Nigerian Shippers Council

Transport Minister, Chief Rotimi Amaechi together with Kano State Governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje on Friday inaugurated the Northwest Zonal office of the Nigerian Shippers Council in Kano.

Amaechi said the Federal Ministry of Transportation through Nigerian Shippers’ Council’s activities highlight the importance of the Maritime sector as the best alternative for economic diversification.

The Minister stated this on Friday at the unveiling of the North-West Zonal office of Nigeria Shippers’ Council in Kano, explaining that the ministry is repositioning economic viability essentially in the non-oil sector.

Let me state categorically that, the transportation sector has the potential for employment, investment, wealth creation and growth of our nation’s international trade.

He emphasized that Kano was strategically chosen to site the Northwest zone office of the Shippers’ council because of its commercial hub.

Amechi said the establishment of Dala Inland Dry Port in Kano and other similar dry Cargo port in the North is part of an effort of the Federal government aimed towards bringing Shipping and related services to the doorsteps of the business community in the region.

He remained that the approved 387 km international rail link standard gauge line coming from Kano to Maradi will create 8.8 million jobs.

According to him, ” Kano has been well known as the centre of commerce since the advent of tran -Sahara trade that spanned the desert of North Africa down to West Africa.

” Our vision is to re-engine the economy by providing the technological driven critical transport infrastructure that will strengthen the Nation logistic value chain and support the development of the non-oil sector”.

In his remarks, Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano, commended the Federal government for the Inland Dry Port and the Shippers Council Directorate brought to Kano.

Ganduje said that in appreciation to the gesture, his administration had reciprocated by carrying out its assigned responsibilities towards the actualisation of the Inland Dry Port.

He said, “We have constructed access road to the Dry Port and other basic infrastructure as required by the Federal government guidelines.”

Ganduje also expressed delight over the Kano Office of the Shippers Council, saying that it was the first outstation to be opened by the Council 31 years ago in 1990, except for Lagos Headquarters’.

The Governor however called on the business community in the North-West zone especially those into export and import, to explore the opportunities of the Council.

He further tasked the businessmen on patronising the Dala Inland Dry Port which he said would begin operation in 2022 for the growth and profitability of their businesses.

The Governor however appealed to the ministry of transport to consider the request of Dala Inland Dry Port seeking to declare their facility as a Port of Origin and Destination, having achieved appreciable progress in the physical development.

Also speaking, Executive Secretary and Chief executive Officer, Nigeria Shippers Council, Mr Hassan Bello said the Northwest zonal office of the council situated in Kano serves, Kano, Katsina, Kaduna, Kebbi, Jigawa, Sokoto and Zamfara.

He said that the Zonal Office would strengthen International Relations, as Kano remained a major business hub in the region.

I must appreciate President Muhammadu Buhari and the Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Rotimi Amechi for the support in making this edifice a reality and the infrastructural investment in the transport sector, that will galvanize the economic development, Hassam Bello said