Benue State Shippers Association and Niger State Shippers Association have both demanded Inland Co trainer depots (dry ports) be cited in their State due to their strategic locations.
The states also demanded functional river ports as well as the dredging of Rivers Benue and Niger to enable barges move goods from the seaports to the river ports for onward distribution to the hinterland.
They made these demands and more when the Shippers Associations in the North Central paid a courtesy call on the Executive Secretary, Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC) Mr. Emmanuel Jime, in his office in Abuja. The Shippers Associations present at the courtesy call where those of Benue, Plateau, Niger, and Kogi states.
In his presentation, the President, Benue Shippers Association (BENSHIPA), Master Porter Levi O’brien Yakubu said his Association worked with the Benue Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mines and Agriculture and the Benue State Ministries of Industry, and Cooperatives and Trade and Investment to establish the Inland Container Depot in Makurdi on Build Operate and Transfer (BOT) with the hope of leveraging the proposed narrow gauge rail track rehabilitation from Port Harcourt passing through Makurdi to Maiduguri.
Reacting, the ES of NSC, Emmanuel Jime River Ports are not within his purview but he will escalate their complaints to the relevant authorities.
He said he is willing to work with the various shipping associations to deepen their operations.
