The Nigerian Shippers’ Council has sent a team to conduct a feasibility study and assess the land acquired by Kebbi State Government for the establishment of a Dry Port at Tsamiya border town, Bagudo Local Government Area, Kebbi State.
Officials of the Council on Wednesday led by Paul Garnvwa,
Nigerian Shippers’ Council
Deputy Director
Head of Public Private Partnership Unit
Lagos HQ, conducted feasibility study on the large expanse of land demarcated for the Port.
Kebbi State Government on the approval of Governor Nasir Idris, acquired the land and paid compensation to the landowners, measuring 104 hectares for operational site and 50 hectares for office complex.
After the inspection, the Deputy Director, Mr. Paul Garnvwa, expressed satisfaction about the massive land acquired by the Kebbi Government for the Dry Port.
“Kebbi State has written to the Shippers’ Council about the Port, Our Executive Secretary is passionate about the project”,
“Officials of the Council are here at the site in Tsamiya to conduct feasibility study, the establishment of the Port has immense economic benefits for the state and the nation”,
“When functional, the Port will have the capacity to reduce congestion for Lagos, we have seen the documentation, we have also seen the land”,
“The process for final approval for the take off of the project will take 18 months”,
“The Shippers’ Council acknowledges the commendable efforts of Kebbi Governor Nasir Idris for his enthusiasm to the actualisation of the project”,
“We thank him for paying compensation to land owners, Kebbi has 20% equity, it will provide access roads, electricity and water”,
“The presence of the Federal Government will entail freight Port charges, the presence of Customs and other Agencies”,
“People can import or export goods through the Kebbi Dry Port, it’s a viable economic project”,
“Tsamiya being a border town with the Republic of Benin is advantageous in this venture, trade will flourish, the Shippers’ Council is satisfied with the location and the massive land for the Port”, the deputy Director commented.
Welcoming the team to the site, Kebbi Permanent Secretary for Lands and Housing, TPL Dr. Abubakar Ahmed, informed the officials that the land measured 870 meters by 1020 meters representing 1.2 km from the starting point.
“Delegation from the Shippers’ Council is here to inspect the acquired site for the Port, 104 hectares are designed for the operational zone, while 50 hectares will be used for office complex”, TPL Abubakar Ahmed said.
The Chairman, KAJAST Servicefield Ltd., Managers of the Dry Port, Alhaji Suleiman Muhammad Argungu, Jarman Kabi, described the project as of immense importance to the people of the region and the nation.
Argungu who is also the National Organising Secretary of the APC, thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for providing the enabling environment for the establishment of the Port in Kebbi.
“I am similarly expressing profound gratitude to Governor Nasir Idris for his support to the project by approving fabulous compensation to the landowners acquired for the site”,
“Look around you, the people gathered here today are all beaming with smiles, President Tinubu and Governor Nasir Idris, have brought wealth and job opportunities to the people”,
“In May, 2024, Governor Nasir Idris consolidated on the foundation laid by the Federal Government to lead powerful team of all stakeholders to Benin Republic, near the border, to sign bilateral agreement with that country”,
“The Pact paves way for an open window for further business activities between Nigeria and Benin Republic”,
“This venture of Dry Port is also a wise decision by Governor Nasir Idris to increase the inflow of Internally Generated Revenue, IGR, while our teeming youths will have job opportunities in abundance”,
“The governor has paid compensation 100% for the land acquired, the delegation from the Shippers’ Council is from Lagos to inspect the layout and see the Certificate of Occupancy, C-of-O, already granted by the governor”,
“After assessment of the true picture of what is on ground, final approval will follow suit to enable the commencement of work”,
“Our firm that will manage the Dry Port, KAJAST SERVICEFIELD Ltd. has presented all the necessary documentation to the Shippers’ Council, we are determined to making it a reality”, Argungu said.
A serving Senator from Benin Republic, Mallam Isa Saleh, who was on site at Tsamiya to welcome the delegation, later led the officials across the border to Sagbana border post in Benin.
He conducted the entourage around some offices provided to the Nigerian Custom Service as temporary operational base, until the completion of the Dry Port that will allow both Custom Services of the two sister neighbours to move to the port to work in synergy.
Speaking at Sagbana, Senator Isa Saleh, made it clear that the establishment of the Tsamiya Dry Port, came through the mutual brotherly agreement between President Tinubu of Nigeria and President Talon of Benin Republic.
“Cotonou Sea Port is nearer the Dry Port at Tsamiya, goods coming in through Cotonou will be more accessible to the dry Port, the people of both nations will witness an increase in trade and commerce as well as social and economic interaction”, the Benin Lawmaker said.
The Chairman thanked Governor Nasir Idris for bringing economic prosperity to the area, assuring the government of absolute cooperation from the people for the success of the project.
The two traditional rulers of the area, Sarkin Illo, Muhammad Wamkun and Sarkin Yamman Illo, Muhammad Salah, accompanied the delegation on the inspection visit to the site and across the border into Benin Republic.
At Sagbana, Kebbi State Chairman, Board of Internal Revenue, Aminu ABDULLAHI, presented a letter of approval granted by Governor Nasir Idris to the Chairman of Bagudo Local Government on the collection of Internally generated revenue.
