Talks between the Federal Government and China Railway Construction Corporation Limited (CRCC) on a dry port project in Oyo State, Western Nigeria, is nearing conclusion.
CRCC is the preferred bidder for the implementation of the over $111million dry port project.
The Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) however, says the proposed Ibadan Inland Dry Port in Olorisa-Oko, is moving closer to construction.
The shippers’ council Head of Public Relations, Mrs. Rakiya Zubairu, says at the end of the talks, an updated Full Business Case Compliance report’’ will be produced.
She explains that after that, ‘’a draft agreement will be presented to the Federal Ministry of Justice and sent to the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), for vetting, after which the Minister of Transportation will present the agreement to the Federal Executive Council.”
Zubairu pointed out that the concessionaire will be taken to the site for ‘’sod-turning and immediate commencement of the construction of the port’’ which is expected to be complete within a period of 12 months.
Ibadan Inland Dry Port Project
The 80,000 TEU capacity Ibadan Inland dry port is aimed at addressing congestion and gridlocks in Apapa ports, Lagos. It will be implemented on a Design, Build, Finance, Operate, Maintain and Transfer model under a Public-Private Partnership deal.
It will be designated as a port of destination where cargo will be consolidated for import and export, especially in the Western part of Nigeria.
The Lagos-Kano standard gauge railway which is currently under construction is aligned to the proposed dry port, making it easy to convey cargo from the seaports in Lagos and to all destinations along the route.
The NSC public relations chief says among other uses, the dry port will also provide a competitive cargo sorting centre, bulk breaking as well as cargo-tracking and truck management services.
