Sept. 11, 2021

The Federal government says it would not commission the Dala Inland Dry Port project, if it did not see a completed primary school offering free education to the many out-of-school children in the area.

The Minister of Transportation, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, said this in a statement by the ministry’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Mr. Eric Ojiekwe on Saturday.

Amaechi made the disclosure at the final session of the 5-day National Council on Transportation (NCT), held in the commercial city of Kano, Kano State.

“I want NSC to note this because that’s the agreement we had with the concessionaire.

“Shippers’ council can charge whatever you want to charge for the dry port but part of the profit that they make in the dry port, will go to the upbringing of those children, ” Amaechi noted.

The Minister of State for Transportation, Sen. Gbemisola Saraki said: “after the last time the council met, Nigeria ratified the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA).

“The ratification of the AfCFTA is a new dawn with significantly positive ramifications for our collective future.

“Nigeria has an opportunity to leverage its geographical position, its large domestic market and industrial capacity to become the transportation hub for Africa.

“But this prize will not be easily won and there is much work to do to actualise this potential. It will require smart, rigorous, foresighted planning and swift, diligent execution across all modes of transportation,” she said .

Saraki was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Magdalene Ajani.

Speaking also, Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje, the host governor, represented by his Deputy, Dr. Nasiru Gawuna, expressed satisfaction at the theme of the event, “Sustainable Development as a Panacea for National Development.”

“The theme gives me the impression that we are on the path of overcoming national development challenges.

“This is based on the fact that the transport industry is one promising sector that if exploited optimally, will stimulate the needed economic transformation in our country,” he said.