FG unveils Funtua Inland Dry Port Thursday

Funtua Inland Dry Port, Katsina State.

The Federal Government has concluded plans to inaugurate Funtua Inland Dry Port in Katsina State officially.

In a statement on Tuesday, the Assistant Director, Public Relations Unit of the Nigerian Shippers Council, Rebecca Adamu, said that the inauguration has been billed for Thursday.

Adamu said the dry port would be opened by President Bola Tinubu at the Funtua IDP project site, Katsina State.

“This significant milestone marks a pivotal moment in the council’s commitment to facilitating trade in Nigeria. It is also in line with the performance bond signed by the Minister of Marine & Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola,” she said.

According to her, the initiative is part of NSC’s key performance indicator to deliver the Funtua Inland Dry Port Project before the end of the first quarter of 2024.

The Executive Secretary of the NSC, Pius Akutah, noted that the establishment of the inland dry ports being promoted by the council would “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”.

Recall that in February 2023, the Federal Government under Muhammadu Buhari declared Funtua IDP as a port of origin and destination, which will pave the way for importers and exporters to consign their cargo from Funtua to any part of the world.

Meanwhile, this is the third in the series by the Federal Government to open inland dry ports in the country.

The first was the inauguration of the Kaduna Inland Dry Port in 2018 and Dala Inland Dry Port in 2023, respectively.