KANO: $27m Dala Inland Dry Port to be completed end of 2021 – MD

THE Dala Inland Dry Port in Kano will be ready for use in December, 2021, said the company’s Managing Director, Alhaji Ahmed Rabiu, on Friday during an inspection of the port, in Kumbotso Local Government Area of the state.

Rabiu said the project will cost $27 million, adding that the state government had also spent N2.3 billion for the construction of access road, perimeter fence, electricity and water supply at the site which was birthed by the Federal Government 20 years ago and designated a Special Economic Zone.

“We are going to compete favourably with Lagos in terms of revenue generation and also reduce the loss of containers while in transit between Lagos and Kano,” he said.

“When completed, the cost of transportation will drastically reduce because while it costs about N1.2 million to take containers from Lagos to Kano by road, it will cost not more than N200,000 by rail.

“Containers berthed at the Lagos ports will be transported on the old rail lines to Kano in 24 hours, just as the project will enhance the reactivation of trans-Sahara commercial activities,’’ he stated.

The National Inland Water Ways Authority has revealed plans to move 1000 containers from Lagos to Onitsha river port.

The agency has said it is targeting about 1,000 containers to be hauled per trip from Lagos ports to Onitsha River Port within the maximum duration of 4 days.