By Godwin Oritse

THE Executive Secretary and Chief Executive officer of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), Captain Adamu Biu. has  blamed state governments’ lack of commitment  for the delay in the commencement of Inland Container Depots (ICDs)
Biu disclosed this  at the Nigerian Maritime Ports and Terminal Expo and Conference  recently in Lagos  said the dry ports would have become functional if only the various state governments had embraced the various concessionaires.

Biu paper which was titled “Challenges and Prospects of Dry Port Projection in Nigerian The first challenge of the project implementation is that the conception and gestation was in 1989 and up till 2009, states governments  are still grappling with he necessary applications, documentation and approvals from various related agencies, whose statutory functions touch on the establishment/operation of the Dry Ports.

“Some state governments have not fully embraced  the project itself resulting in the Council’s aggressive and continuous follow-up with the state governments on compensation or the concessionaires  to allow for equity participation”. He added.

Listing the benefits of dry port to the Nigerian economy, Biu said they include: relieving the congested traditional ports of entry, recognition as an international trade processing location where shipment can be consigned to the site from any port of loading, and enhancing corridor efficiency modes by shifting freight volumes from roads to more energy efficient modes that are less harmful to the environment.

Other benefits of dry ports  according to the Shippers’ Council boss  are facilitating the value added services thought feeder companies to the project, enhancing trade competitiveness, creating local employment and enhancing local and regional development and reducing both public and private cost. Speaking at the event in a welcome address,  Managing Director of FCI international, organisers of the event, Mr. Fortune Idu said that NIMPORT present the platform for industry leaders around the world to gather to address pressing issues of, energy cost, logistics and shipping, ports infrastructure, development, human capital optimization, customs reform, inland terminal and waterway development security and safety, project funding, economic integration and diversification, training and professionalism.