… As Council sensitises exporters on positioning Nigerian products internationally***

Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State on Monday, in Abuja, unveiled the logo for the Dala Inland Dry Port (IDP).

Ganduje said at the event that the state government had already invested over N2.7billion in the project.

Also read: Dala Port: Shippers council applaud pace of work

The newsmen report that the project, which was conceived over two decades ago, is proposed to be delivered in March.

”This project was conceived over 20 years ago but did not go beyond paperwork.

When we came in, we decided to give it political will.

”We were requested to provide an enabling environment, which was absolutely necessary.

”We (Kano State), had spent more than N2.7billion for access road, fencing of the whole site, provision of water, electricity, security around the area.

”So, we are happy that the project has taken off in earnest.

“We assure you that if Dala IDP is declared a port of origin and destination, we will not be serving the state of Kano alone.

”We are extending discussion with the Republic of Niger, Chad, northern Cameroon, Republic of Central Africa and they have all agreed to utilise this facility.

”We thank all the stakeholders who have come to our aid, we assure you that the Kano state government will continue to provide an enabling environment.

”This is to ensure that this inland dry port provides the best services in the world as far as inland dry port is concerned,” Ganduje said.

In his remark, the Minister of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi restated the importance of dry ports to facilitate international trade and transit cargoes to landlocked countries.

Amaechi, represented by Dr Margaret Ajani, the Permanent Secretary of, Ministry of Transportation, reiterated Federal Government’s commitment to link all approved Dry Ports in the country with rail lines, for optimum utilisation and efficiency.

”In this regard, the Dala IDP in Zawachiki will be given the necessary attention by considering possible options to align the facility with the Lagos-Kano Standard Gauge Rail line under construction apart from the Narrow Gauge Line already in existence.

”We have a ministerial committee chaired by the permanent secretary to ensure the realisation of the Dala IDP and other ports.

”It will look at the challenges militating against its development since 2006 and recommend workable solutions to make them fully operational.

”It is imperative to develop the dry port and make it work.

This will undoubtedly boost revenue generation and job creation to the teeming youth of the state.

”This project will greatly provide stimulus to the economy of the state and the country at large,” Amaechi said.

The minister commended the Kano state government for its efforts towards the realisation of the port.

He also called on shippers, investors and port users to take full advantage of this investment opportunity to patronise Dala IDP for export and import cargoes through the facility.

The Minister of Industry Trade and Investment, Mr Adeniyi Adebayo, said the Dala IDP would not only help decongest the seaports but would reduce time and cost of processing for export, particularly for shippers in the hinterland

”I am confident that the port will help enhance activities of importers and exporters by ensuring that goods of the right quality are exported and imported,” Adebayo said.

The Emir of Kano, Alhaji Aminu Ado-Bayero,  appealed to those concerned to ensure speedy completion of the Dala port and the Kaduna-Kano rail project.

” It is imperative to ensure full implementation of recommendation of the proposed summit as it will attract stakeholders and investors to invest in Kano.

”We at the Emirate Council will give all the necessary support needed.”

On his part, Mr Emmanuel Jime, the Executive Secretary of, Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC), appreciated the Kano state government for releasing over N2.5billion in support of the Dala project and called on other states to emulate the gesture.

Jime assured of the commitment of the NSC and the ministry of transportation in the realisation of port projects in the country.

Earlier, the Chairman of Dala IDP,  Abubakar Bawuro,  in his opening remarks commended all the stakeholders that had variously contributed to the realisation of the project.

He also commended Ganduje for providing an enabling environment for businesses in the state to thrive.

The event was attended by key stakeholders,  investors, traditional rulers and government officials, among others.

The stakeholders applauded the efforts of the Kano government and pledged their support for the success of the project.

In the meantime, the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) held a one-day workshop in Jos on Monday to sensitise potential exporters on ways of marketing Nigeria’s non-oil products in foreign markets.

Declaring the workshop open, Mrs Angela Uche-Echieh, an official of the NEPC, said it was part of its mandate to sensitise exporters and prospective exporters.

She represented Dr Ezra Yakusak, the Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of NEPC at the workshop

Uche-Echieh added that the workshop also aimed at educating participants on the various benefits of adopting distinct features of satisfying the specific needs of target markets.

“This workshop is put together because the Council is mindful of the various challenges exporters face in having access to quality markets in the United States, the EU and the United Kingdom.

“We are here to sensitise exporters and prospective ones on how they can access our services to boost their export.

“This is an avenue to engage exporters on the ways to diversify their activities to penetrate and compete favourably with foreign counterparts in the international market,’’ she said.

Uche-Echieh noted that the distortion of global businesses and economics by COVID-19 meant that there was the need to increase non-oil earnings.

She added that the NEPC, in collaboration with other relevant stakeholders, had been agitating for the full implementation of zero-oil plan that would build the economy to depend less on crude oil revenue.

In an address of welcome, Mrs Sarah Temlong, an official of the North Central Zone of the NEPC, described the workshop as timely.

She represented Mr Samson Idowu the North Central Coordinator of the Council at the workshop.

Temlong said that penetrating global markets involved early research, setting of goals and strategic planning as well as implementation.

“Producers and manufacturers must ensure that their products meet international requirements of health, safety, packaging and labelling, import regulation, and environmental adaptability, technical and marketing standards.

“It is in the light of this that the Council organised this workshop to increase the awareness of exporters on the relevance of developing products and services to favourably compete in the international markets,’’ she said.

Presenting a paper on the theme of the workshop, Mr Ofon Udofia, Chief Executive Officer, Institute of Export Operation and Management, identified factors inhibiting the export of goods and services.

He said they included absence of quality product information to consumers, the cumbersomeness of administrative procedures, lack of certification of products and irregular supply and instability of products.

Udofia noted, however, that certification, proper packaging and labelling remained some of the ways to protect and guarantee production and sustainable supply.

The newsmen report that precipitants at the workshop included farmers, producers, prospective exporters, members of various associations and government organisations.

It had “Positioning Nigerian Products in Certified Niche Markets in the U.S.A., EU and U.K’’ as its theme.