The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NCS) , Mr Hassan Bello, has said that the Heipang Inland Dry Port Project will improve Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) and create employment opportunities in Plateau State

Bello stated this when Plateau State governor Simon Lalong visited the NCS’s office in Abuja.

Bello stated that the federal government’s Inland Dry Port Projects were conceived as part of government’s port reform programme to decongest the seaports and bring shipping and ports services closer to importers and exporters in the hinterland.

He said the development prompted the federal government to approve the establishment of the projects at Heipang and five other locations including Aba, Ibadan, Kano, Funtua and Maiduguri under the Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement.

Highlighting the economic impact of the project, Bello said, “It will replicate port economy in Jos, boost export activities through production of cash crops, thereby revitalising the agricultural sector and consequently reducing over dependence on oil.

“The project will also encourage the establishment of agro-allied industries for the export of semi-processed and manufactures agricultural products. It will reduce transportation and transaction cost and many other benefits”.

The Executive secretary however said that the project was suspended when the past state government withdrew the Letters of Exchange that allotted the land for the project.

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Heipang dry-inland port will boost IGR – Shippers Council