The Jos Inland Container Depot has not been finished 19 years after it was inaugurated, which has alarmed stakeholders in the North Central zone.
The stakeholders voiced concern that the state and surrounding areas had not benefited from a working inland container depot, which would have created jobs and stimulated the economy, because the JICD had not been completed.
The JICD, which is situated in Heipang, Jos, Plateau State, was first intended to improve export cargo consolidation, relieve seaport congestion, and promote regional economic growth, according to the PUNCH.
The project has, however, been beset by delays and difficulties, such as the demolition in 2014 by the administration of then-Governor Jonah Jang and the subsequent N2.2 billion purchase of the concessionaire, Duncan Maritime Ventures, by the Plateau State Government in 2021.
The project is still unfinished in spite of this.
At an interactive session hosted in Jos by the Nigerian Shippers Council’s North Central Coordinating Office on Wednesday, various stakeholders expressed sadness for the project’s 19-year setback and bemoaned the current state of affairs.
In order to facilitate the transportation of agricultural products, the Federal Government was urged by Mr. Danlami Jelka, a stakeholder and managing director of Plateau Investment and Property Development Company, and the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria representative to guarantee rail connectivity to the Heipang Inland Dry Port.
“This project was initiated over 19 years ago,” Jelka stated. It hasn’t reached 40% completion as of yet.
This is giving us a serious cause for concern because the state and it’s people are not reaping the benefits. We are aware that this dry port functions well when there is a rail connection. As a matter of fact, the rail connection that comes to Jos has been moribund for quite a long time.
“We need help in this area as well. So, we hope that something will be done this time around.”
Another stakeholder and business owner from Bokkos, Makwil Benard, lamented that local farmers had suffered enormous loses due to the non functionality of the dry port.
“What the farmers who produce in large quantity are losing can only be imagined because they do not have the means to transport to transport them where they are mostly needed some of these produce are sold at give away prizes because you keep perishable produce at your own risk. I think the dry port will solve this challenge when it becomes operational,” Benard stated
However, the Jos Inland Dry Port in Heipang, Plateau State, will soon be operational, the Federal Government promised the stakeholders through the Nigerian Shippers Council.
NSC Executive Secretary Pius Akutah was hopeful that the Jos Inland Dry Port project would soon come to fruition thanks to the Federal Government’s increased cooperation with the host state government and other stakeholders.
We have visited the location to observe the situation, and we are putting in a lot of effort with the Plateau State Government. We are also considering the option of finding an investor who can fill the time gap and expedite the process.
“So, we must have an investor that is financially capable to carry out this mandate and that is the mandate the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy has given us because he is concerned that this legacy project has been on for almost 20 years and nothing has really happened and this is because of the involvement of investors who did not have the capacity to carry out this type of project because it is capital intensive.
“So, we must be weary that those incapable investors do not take it over again. It is not every investor that can do it. What the minister wants is an investor that has the capacity, the funding and must see the seriousness before he puts his signature on any concession agreement with any investor that shows interest because we need the infrastructure to start operation,” the Executive Secretary said.
Akutah emphasized the council’s commitment to ensuring the development of inland dry ports across the country.
He decried the low number of mega businesses in Nigeria and reiterated the council’s readiness to support importers and exporters.
The NSC boss urged business owners in the state to take advantage of the North-Central Zonal Office of the Shippers’ Council to boost trade and investment.
“I would like to encourage all industry participants in Plateau State and the North Central Zone to make the most use of our services in order to gain the most out of their shipping and logistics,” he continued.
Salihu Mohammed, the Plateau Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, stated that the state administration is prepared to see that the Dry Port is operational.
He disclosed that talks to collaborate on operationalizing the plant were still going on with possible investors.
The NSC North Central Coordinator, Mr. Jeremiah Okoliko, continued, “We cannot afford to allow Jos Inland Dry Port to remain nonfunctional when others are operating.”
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