The Federal Government has concluded plans to officially commission the Funtua Inland Dry Port on Thursday, May 9th in Katsina State.
According to Rebecca Adamu, assistant director of the Public Relations Unit at the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), the port will be commissioned by President Bola Tinubu at the Funtua project site in Katsina State with key dignitaries, government officials and industry stakeholders in attendance.
Adamu said the commissioning will mark a pivotal moment of the Council’s commitment to facilitating trade in Nigeria in line with the performance bond signed by Adegboyega Oyetola, minister of Marine and Blue Economy.
She said the initiative is part of the Council’s key performance indicator to deliver the Funtua Inland Dry Port project before the end of the first quarter of 2024.
Pius Akutah, executive secretary of the NSC, said the establishment of Inland Dry Ports being promoted by the Council, will bring shipping and port services closer to the importers and exporters at the hinterland.
He said it would also decongest the seaports, create job opportunities, and improve and accrue huge revenue to the government.
In February 2023, the Federal Government under the Muhammadu Buhari-led administration declared Funtua IDP as a Port of Origin and Destination which paved the way for importers and exporters to officially consign their cargo from Funtua to any part of the world.
The commissioning of Funtua is the third in the series of Inland Dry Ports that was completed and commissioned. The first was the Kaduna Inland Dry Port in 2018 and the Dala Inland Dry Port in 2023.
