According to report reaching OYOGist.com, the Federal Government and other stakeholders have selected a Chinese firm, to build the Ibadan Dry Port, after over 15 years of lacklustre approach to the project.
In a statement issued by Mrs Rakiya Zubairu, the Head of Public Relations, Nigeria Shippers’ Council (NSC), Mrs Rakiya Zubairu, on Saturday, disclosed that the China Railway Construction Corporation Limited has emerged the preferred bidder for the construction of the 80,000 TEU capacity dry port on the basis of Public-Private Partnership (PPP), to be locared in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital.
Mrs Rakiya Zubairu noted that the National Shippers’ Council would be the guarantor to the concession of the dry port project, and in addition, the project, which was to be sited on Ibadan-Iwo Road, aimed at decongesting Lagos Ports and the gridlocks in the Apapa area of Lagos, has now been relocated Akinyele area of the city.
According to Rakiya Zubairu, the facility would be designated as port of destination where cargo would be consolidated for import and export, especially in the Southwestern part of Nigeria.
She said, “Among other uses, the dry port will provide a competitive cargo sorting centre, bulk breaking as well as cargo-tracking and truck management services.
The Public Relations Head stated further that, “The Lagos-Kano standard gauge railway 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.
She revealed that the negotiations emphasised the utilisation of local content at each stage of development and operation of the port facility.
Mrs Zubairu emphasised that an updated “Full Business Case Compliance report’’ would be produced at the end of the ongoing negotiations, andthereafter, a draft agreement would 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 would present the agreement to the Federal Executive Council for final approval.
According to her, the concessionaire would then be taken to the site for sod-turning and immediate commencement of construction of the port which is expected to be completed within a year.
She said, “The negotiation was moderated by the Federal Ministry of Transportation led by the acting Permanent Secretary and the Director, Maritime Services, Auwalu Suleiman.
Mrs Zubairu disclosed the four day negotiation was handled by the Director-General of ICRC, Mr Chidi Izuwa. Amb. Jummai Katagum, who represented the Federal Ministry of Finance.
According to her, Mrs Olubamiwo Adeosun, Secretary to Government of Oyo State and the preferred bidder CRCC was led by its Deputy Managing Director, Jacques Liao.at the table.
It was reported in the statement that the Executive Secretary of the NSC Hassan Bello, expressed satisfaction with the proceedings as all parties expressed firm commitment to the actualisation of the dry port project.
Mrs Zubairu remarked that transaction advisors, Aminu Dikko and Mohammed Kumalia, facilitated the negotiation, stressing that the Ibadan dry port project would soon be completed, and put into use.
