Non-Oil Export: Tinubu commissions Funtua Inland Dry Port

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has commissioned the Funtua Inland Dry Port in Katsina State as part of efforts to grow the country’s economy through non-oil exports.

At the commissioning, the President explained that the dry port was another step forward for Nigeria’s economic development.

The President, who was represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Dr. George Akume, stressed that the concept of inland dry ports had gained prominence globally, particularly with the container revolution and the advent of door-to-door cargo delivery.

He added: “This port, strategically located in Funtua, Katsina State is the third to be completed and commissioned among the six legacy Inland Dry Port projects spread across our nation’s six geo-political zones.

“It is imperative to acknowledge the long-awaited anticipation from our hinterland business communities for such essential facilities. The Funtua Inland Dry Port holds immense potential to enhance the ease of conducting international business for interior-based shippers, both importers and exporters. In line with the renewed hope agenda of my administration, this development aligns with our commitment to diversify the economy towards non-oil exports.

“This port grants importers and exporters located within our inland cities, as well as neighbouring hinterland countries such as Niger, Chad, Northern Cameroon, and Central Africa, access to shipping and port services without the need to physically visit seaports.”

He explained that the port offers importers the convenience of processing cargo clearance and receiving raw materials and machinery closer to their places of business.

For exporters, he said that the dry port provides essential facilities for processing, packaging, consolidating, and forwarding exports worldwide.

Also, the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Oyetola Adegboyega explained that Katsina State had been ranked highly in agricultural products and in other businesses in the country, noting that the state was largest producer of cotton and the second largest producer of sorghum, which produces 13 per cent of Nigeria’s sugarcane, placing it in second place in Nigeria, as well as other cereals and legume crops.

Oyetola said: “In addition to all these, the presence of several manufacturing industries in Katsina not only makes it suited but most qualified to host an inland dry port.

“Your Excellency, Mr President, you may wish to recall that the Inland Dry Port Projects were conceived as part of the Federal Government’s Ports Reform Programme, designed to, among others, decongest the seaports while also taking shipping and port services closer to importers and exporters in the hinterland.

“We are also collaborating with the Ministries of Transportation and Works to help further increase our port efficiency. For the Ministry of Transportation, we are collaborating on the intra-modal link between the seaports and the inland dry ports, while the Ministry of Works is assisting in fixing the access roads to our ports. All these efforts are aimed at improving the ease of doing business in our port.”

On his part, the Governor of Katsina State, Dr Dikko Umar Radda, commended the efforts of the Federal Government at ensuring the completion of the Dry Port.

He noted that the state contributed to the project by allocating 70 hectares of land as well as a 3-kilometre carriage for the port.