By Marie-Therese Nanlong

Jos—Plateau State government in partnership with the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, NSC, is to resuscitate the Jos Inland Container Depot, Heipang, as part of efforts at creating jobs and empowering youths to curb restiveness in the state.    Similarly, the Federal Ministry of Transport, FMT, through its Chief Executive Officer, Inland Container Depot, Mr. Ogunleye Ogunsola, who was in the state yesterday on a visit to the Depot, promised the Ministry’s support for the successful take off of businesses at the depot.

At the event which drew delegates from the FMT, NSC, the state Ministries of Lands and Survey as well as Commerce among others, speakers highlighted the importance of the depot not only to the state but the entire North Central region.

Commissioner for Lands and Survey, Mr. Festus Fuanter, told the gathering that it was necessary for the state to resuscitate the depot as doing so was in line with its resolved to create enabling environment for private businesses to thrive and create job opportunities for its citizens.

According to him: “We just had a retreat where we were sensitized on ways of generating IGR, the seriousness which the state government gives this project shows that we won’t rest on our oars till the project takes off and provide a means of livelihood for our people.”

The representative of the FMT. Mr. Ogunsola said , “We are here to inspect and see things for ourselves, advise the Ministry accordingly and assist the Company in the way we can so that the people of the State can benefit from it.”

North Central Zonal Coordinator, NSC, Kparbong Bali expressed hope that there were positive indications that the project which was put on hold since 2014 when the former administration in the state ordered the demolition of the project site “will see the light of the day.”