By UMAR DANLADI ADO
KANo state government has urged a foreign
shipping industry to assist in farmers, effort to establish a model dry port
that will serve neighbouring African countries.
The state deputy governor, Engr. Magaji
Abdullahi made the appeal when he received executive members of Maersk Line
paid him a courtesy call in his office on Monday.
He said the state government is already in the
process of establishing an Inland container deport in the state, explaining
that "we had one near railway station, but we have relocated it to Kumbotso
industrial area, and we are now in the process of providing all the
infrastructure for its full take-off�.
Engr. Abdullahi then advised the members to
liase with the Kano state Chamber of Commerce to explain more on the
requirement for improving the inland container deport.
The deputy governor then reminded the members
on the role of Kano as a commercial centre which dates back to centuries and
even before the colonial era.
He further observed that despite such role, the
only limitation is that the state is not situated near any sea port hence
has to rely on dry port in order to serve the teeming commercial people.
Engr. Abdullahi said: "The dry port we are
building now is going to be a model as it is going to serve not only Kano,
or its neighbouring states but even neighbouring nations such as Niger
Republic, Chad, Cameroun and others," he stressed.
According him, the proposed deport is going to
be a very big project, and appeal is to the visiting team to assist
financially and otherwise to make the project a reality.
Similarly, he explained that, when completed,
the port will solve many problems as it would make transportation easier and
boost our economic base and pledged to provide logistics and other supports
to make the project a reality.
Earlier, the deputy managing director of Maerks
shipping line, Mr. Martin Lund had said that the purpose of the visit to
Kano was to inspect local facilities and make evaluation of future
engagements in African region.
He said the visit was also in recognition of
Kano as trade hope in Northern Nigeria, and believes that Kano is future
will in future have a very important role to play in commercial activities.
Mr. Lund stated that his organization has
provided logistic transport solution and infrastructure to facilitate trade
globally.
He then pledged to support and provide
necessary facilities to make the proposed Kano dry port a reality.
