Dala Dry Port, significant to Kano economy — Ganduje

By Joel Oladele, Abuja

The Dala Inland Dry Port has been described  as a project  of great significance to the economy of the centre of commerce of Sahel Region of Africa, Kano State.

The Governor  of Kano State, Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje stated this in his speech at the summit organised to unveil the logo of the  Dry Port at Transcop Hilton, Abuja on Monday.

Welcoming  the distinguished personalities like: the CEO/Chairman Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote,  and the CEO BUA Group, Alhaji Abdulsamad Rabiu, Ganduje said, “the summit is important to us in view of its significance towards growing the Kano Economy and not only creating jobs for all natives and residents, but, improving the socio-economic wellbeing of the entire citizenry.”

The summit which brought together  many natives of Kano, both at home and in diaspora; friends and lovers of Kano; business men and women from all over the world is poised to dwell on a strong economic enabler, a transport and logistics vehicle, the 20,000 TEU Dala Inland Dry Port.

According to the  Governor, Kano has been adjudged as the centre of commerce of Sahel Region of Africa.

“We had in the past relied on transportation of large volumes of cargo on the backs of camels, animals that have the capacity of carrying the largest volume of cargo and that travel very long distances with the cargo and have great endurance of hunger and thirst. They were made by God for the desert transport and were the major source of Transport for the Trans Saharan Trade.

“Kano served as the major national gateway for imports and exports in the country beating Lagos and the rest coastal states. Kano was at some time the largest contributor to the National GDP. Virtually all exports out of the country were none oil products.

“With colonisation, the seaports in the southern states came into the show and took significant part of the shine off Kano. Network of rail lines were laid to link the seaports to source of export products like cotton and groundnuts in the North.”

Ganduje went further by blaming the government at all levels for abandoning roads and railways with little or no commitments to the export trade since the advent  of the blue gold and crude oil which unfortunately are fast going into extinction.

He appreciated President Muhammad Buhari for diversifying the economy, which has consequently encouraged  exportation of non-oil products.

“Thanks to the Government of President Muhammad Buhari GCFR for being resolute in its determination to bail the country out. Notably, his government has realised the fast-approaching zero oil regime and crafted policies and establishments to remedy its predicament; has formulated several support policies and vehicles to facilitate exportation of none oil products and support their growth; has embarked on the very lofty rail revolution project. The rail is adjudged to be the securest and cheapest mode of cargo delivery all over the world.

“We in Kano realised the humongous opportunities being presented by the efforts of the Government of President Muhammad Buhari and resolved to take appropriate steps to fully key-into them. That is the singular reason we moved in to actualise the 20,000 TEU Dala Inland Dry Port Project which had been in the pipeline for twenty years before our coming into office.

“We realised that the Kano Exporters which includes exporters from our neighbouring states and neighbouring countries notably, Niger and Chad Republics and the Northern Cameroon suffer untold hardship and losses in the process of receiving their imports or forwarding their exports.

“The hardship coupled with the exorbitant transport costs have pushed so many very committed businesses men out of business. It is sad to note and to agree with the statement by one of the eminent sons of Kano, Alhaji Abdussamad Isyaku Rabiu, when he said, ‘It is cheaper to transport a container from China to Lagos than to transport the same container from Lagos to Kano’.”

The governor added,  “With a functional Rail line from Lagos or other seaports to Kano inland port and from Kano inland port to Niger Republic etc., the imports for the zone shall be at competitive prices while there will be rapid exponential continuing growth of non-oil exports which shall greatly grow our national GDP.

“The economic benefit of Dala Inland Dry Port cannot therefore be over emphasised. That is why when my administration received a follow up letter from the FGN Coordinating Agency for the Inland Port requesting us to provide critical infrastructure to the land for the project, we did not hesitate in doing so. We set out aggressively to ascertain first the commitment of the Concessionaires to the project and the status of the project.

“We were convinced that the concessionaires were committed and the major hindrance to the project actualisation were two, namely, servicing the land with critical infrastructure and the required declaration of the Port as a Port of Origin and Destination. We subsequently learnt that the Honourable Minister had given an instruction that the Port must be built up to 60% completion before the Minister will make the declaration.

“We first serviced the land and then accompanied them on meetings with the Minister, the coordinating Agency, the Nigerian Shippers Council and also led them on a visit to SIFAX Group which has subsequently become their partner.”

Ganduje expressed his delight over the fact that the project  has attained over ninety percent completion and the owners and their partners appear poised to commence business.

“We seek your kindness to grant the declaration of the 20,000 TEU Dala Inland Dry Port, Zawachiki, Kumbotso Local Government, Kano as ‘a Port of Origin and Destination.’ I have been told that they need this declaration to get the Nigerian Customs Service, the CBN and other stakeholder Federal Government Agencies to make appropriate plans to support and facilitate their operations.

“Kano is not a centre of commerce by accident. It has been home to great traders and industrialists and today has given Nigeria two great enviable sons, Alhaji Aliko Dangote and Alhaji Abdussamad Isyaku Rabiu. Kano is today the most populous and yet most peaceful state, it is home of the most hospitable people. It has great economic potentials. It accounts for at least 70% of non-oil exports in the Country.

“We have in our modest way made Kano more business friendly through projects like the Dangote Entrepreneurship centre, the several bridges notable the Aminu Dantata Flyover which is unarguably the longest flyover on land in Nigeria and perhaps the continent, roads including the zoo road three-way interchange, the world class cancer centre, The Muhammadu Buhari Specialist hospital where a successful heart surgency was done among others. Free and Compulsory education, reforming drug addicts etc.

“While looking forward to a great union from 24th May 2022 for the Summit, I wish to reassure you that Kano is a must visit for economic prosperity on the African Continent. Come and establish your business in Kano now and you will soon celebrate great success.”