As part of his ongoing tour of the North West Zone, the Executive Secretary/CEO of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), Barr. Pius Akutah, MON made a pivotal visit to Kano, where he engaged in a series of meetings and inspections aimed at boosting the operational efficiency of the region’s trade infrastructure. His visit focused on addressing the concerns of the Dala Inland Dry Port (IDP) and reinforcing the strategic importance of Kano as Nigeria’s commercial hub.
Upon arrival at the Dala Inland Dry Port, Barr. Akutah was warmly welcomed by the Managing Director of the port, Mr. Ahmad Rabiu alongside other members of his team. During their meeting, Mr. Rabiu provided a brief history of the dry port and highlighted some critical challenges hindering its operations. Chief among these was the port’s current operation status as a bonded terminal, despite its official designation as a Port of Origin and Destination by the Federal Government. Additionally, Mr. Rabiu pointed out the absence of a Nigeria Customs Service desk at the port, which further complicates their operations.
In response, Barr. Akutah acknowledged these issues and expressed confidence in the leadership of the new Comptroller General (CG) of Customs, describing him as “a very innovative man with plans to move the nation forward.” He assured the management of Dala IDP that discussions would be held with the Nigeria Customs Service to address these concerns. Barr. Akutah also provided an update on the legislative process concerning the Carriage of Goods by Land Bill, currently under review in the House of Representatives. He emphasized that once this bill is passed, the dry port would no longer face the challenges of being treated as a bonded terminal.
Following the meeting, Barr. Akutah toured the Dala Inland Dry Port facility, inspecting key areas such as the warehouses and stacking areas. This inspection provided him with a firsthand view of the port’s operations and the logistical challenges it faces.
After his visit to the dry port, Barr. Akutah attended a stakeholder forum at the Bristol Palace Hotel, where he met with various stakeholders involved in Kano’s commercial activities. In his address, Barr. Akutah emphasized the Federal Government’s commitment to transitioning Nigeria from an oil-dependent economy to one driven by non-oil sectors. He urged the people of Kano to leverage their position as the commercial center of the country and to intensify their efforts in expanding non-oil trade. “The Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy is working tirelessly to ensure that this transition is successful,” Barr. Akutah remarked.
During the forum, several stakeholders raised concerns, including the duplication of taxes and processes that burden businesses. A major issue highlighted was the requirement to use dollars for freight payments, which forces traders to source dollars from the black market, thereby inflating costs. Stakeholders argued that the current policy, which restricts the inflow of dollars from banks from being traded, is detrimental to their operations.
Addressing these challenges, Barr. Akutah assured the stakeholders that plans were underway to engage with the appropriate government agencies to find lasting solutions. He expressed the NSC’s commitment to resolving these issues to foster a more conducive business environment in Kano.
Concluding his visit, Barr. Akutah inspected the Kano North West Zonal Coordinating Office of the NSC. He was welcomed by the Zonal Director, Hajia Karimatu Othman, who introduced him to the staff. The staff expressed their appreciation for his visit, noting the significance of the zone, which includes three of the 6 legacy projects that have been declared as Ports of Origin and Destination. They also highlighted ongoing plans for projects in Zamfara, Sokoto, and Kebbi states.
In his address to the staff, Barr. Akutah thanked them for their dedication and hard work, particularly in managing the zone’s strategic projects. He acknowledged the challenges they face and reiterated the Council’s support in ensuring that the North West Zone remains a key player in Nigeria’s trade logistics framework.
The visit concluded with a renewed commitment from both the NSC and the stakeholders to collaborate on addressing the region’s challenges and to capitalize on its potential as a commercial powerhouse in Nigeria.
