President Bola Tinubu

All is set for the official commissioning of the long awaited Funtua Inland Dry Port IDP in Katsina State on Thursday, May 9, 2024 by the Federal Government of Nigeria.

Recall that the Federal Government under President Muhammadu Buhari had designated the 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.

According to a statement by the Assistant Director, Public Relations Unit of the Nigerian Shippers Council NSC, the supervising agency for IDPS in the country and Port Economic Regulator, Rebecca Adamu, the Inland Dry Port will be commissioned by His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR at Funtua IDP Project Site, Katsina State by 11: 00 a.m. prompt.

It was further gathered that the commissioning ceremony will feature key dignitaries, government officials and industry stakeholders.

The statement reads in part: “This significant milestone marks a pivotal moment of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council’s commitment in facilitating trade in Nigeria.

It is also in line with the performance bond signed by the Honourable Minister of Marine & Blue Economy, His Excellency, Adegboyega Oyetola, CON.

It is worthy to note that, this initiative is part of Council’s Key Performance Indicator KPI to deliver the Funtua Inland Dry Port Project before the end of the first quarter of 2024.”

Meanwhile, Executive Secretary/CEO of Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Barr. Pius Ukeyima Akutah, MON, who also spoke on the event, noted that the establishment of the Inland Dry Ports being promoted by the Council will among other things bring shipping and port services closer to the importers and exporters at the hinterland, decongest the seaports, create job opportunities, improve and accrue huge revenue to the government, etc.

Available records also show that this is the third in the series for the Federal Government to commission the Inland Dry Ports in the nation. The first was the commissioning of Kaduna Inland Dry Port in 2018 and Dala Inland Dry Port, Kano in 2023 respectively.