ICNL, taking over Businesses dry-port upgrades as FG approves.

Importers and exporters based in Kaduna have received a leap that will grow their businesses as the federal government has finally upgraded the Inland Container Nigeria Limited (ICNL) to a dry-port status, giving the container depot the right to become the port of origin and destination.

With this, the dry-port, which is currently known as Kaduna Inland Dry Port, would be able to receive and export consignment directly from and to any seaport in the world. Also, on arrival of any container for Kaduna Inland Dry-Port in any seaport in Lagos, the operator of the dry-port would lift the cargo using rail wagons and other haulage companies to the dry-port, where the importer is expected to clear and take delivery of the consignment.

 

“ICNL has been upgraded to a dry-port status through a federal government gazette dated May 2015 and we have signed memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Kaduna State Government to operate the new dry-port as a joint venture,” said Ismail Yusuf, managing director of ICNL, who spoke to BusinessDay in Lagos.

Yusuf, who noted that many northern based businessmen face huge challenges giving the distant and incessant traffic congestion in Lagos seaports, which add to the cost of doing business, also stated that the dry-port would help to ease these difficulties as their cargoes would be brought very close to their doorstep.

According to him, the benefits of the dry-port to businesses are numerous owing to the fact that it will help to reduce the high cost of doing business as importers and exporters would not be expected to travel to Lagos, pay for transport, accommodation and use self-paid truck to take delivery of their consignments.

This, he said, is owing to the fact that the promoters of the dry-port will be lifting these containers directly from Lagos seaport on cheaper rate to the dry-port location.

“We are going to be bringing the finished goods and raw materials of the northern based importers for them at the port and will also move the containers for export down to Lagos ports. The dry-port when fully operational will create jobs for Nigerian and wealth to state and federal government through taxes and import tariff,” he explained.

Also speaking, Rotimi Raimi, deputy general manager, who described the port as a link between northern businesses and the international port communities, stated that the port will services businesses in Abuja, Kano and Kaduna.

“The operations of the dry-port are going to boost economic activities in these listed states by bringing port operations close to the people. This will help decongest Lagos port and reduce the number trucks coming to Lagos,” Raimi stated.

AMAKA ANAGOR-EWUZIE