The Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) has said that it has a dream of building an international resource centre which will cost fifteen billion (₦15,000,000.000) in Jos, the Plateau State Capital.
The Executive Secretary, NSC, Mr. Hassan Bello who disclosed this in a welcome address at the official commissioning of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council North-Central Coordinating Office Complex, Jos, Plateau State on Friday stated that the resource centre would include a 5 star Hotel, shopping mall, restaurant, multipurpose halls and a conference centre (automate) with a capacity of 2,500 people.
He said, “This project will be delivered through Public Private Partnership and supported at all times by the NSC. This zone, this state, this city deserves no less than this. I am sure I will find support from the Federal Ministry of Transportation, Plateau State Government and the private sector.”
While welcoming the private sector, chamber of commerce, manufacturers’ association, importers, exporters, shippers, farmers, processors, miners, transporters and creators of wealth on the Plateau which he said was gradually reclaiming its apex position under this dynamic administration, he informed them that the office which was commissioned on the occasion was built for them and dedicated to the upliftment of International trade Shipping and transportation.
The NSC boss thanked the Governor of Plateau State, Barrister Simon Lalong, whose economic pursuit, according to him, was never lost to NSC.
“Gov. Lalong was the first Governor to visit the NSC Office to discuss the development of the Jos Dry Port. He is frank, patriotic and scientific. He believes in strong economic pluralism of his State. He believes that the Jos Dry Port is an economic investment, a catalyst for employment and an avenue to place the state on the global map of export.
“Gov. Lalong is an economic friendly Governor. He is a friend of the Council. His doors are always open to us; I have the privilege of having unfettered access to him, especially in Abuja. I am humble to enjoy sharing his vision, his dream for Plateau State and Nigeria. The product of these discussions, sometimes presided over by the Minister of Transportation is that the Jos Dry Port will be revitalized and energized. We sincerely hope that it would be completed by 1st Quarter of 2022”, he said.
He equally observed that Nigerian Shippers’ Council’s growth as an economic regulator was all through the support of the Honourable Minister of Transportation, Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi whose administrative support, he said, was key to the success of the agency.
According to him, “He has always been like this. He has a 6th sense of spotting economic ventures and sticking to them. Of course, the Minister of Transportation is the poster boy of this administration. The rail revolution will have a profound impact on the economic ambition of this country. For Shippers’ Council, we have a friend, an ally and a consummate broker of ideas.”
On his part, the Honourable Minister of Transportation, Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi noted that the maritime resource centre that the Council was promoting was a project with tremendous economic potential for the state in terms of employment, tourism, intellectual development among others.
Amaechi pointed out that the resource centre would have huge socio-economic impact on the state while urging the Plateau State government to partner with the Council in actualizing the project.
He further stated that the Federal Ministry of Transportation through the Nigerian Shippers’ Council’s activities highlighted the benefits of the maritime sector as the best alternative for economic diversification.
“Let me state categorically that the transportation sector has the potential for employment, investment and growth of our nation’s international trade. With the support of the Ministry of Transportation, the Council is facilitating the development of Inland Dry Ports such as the Dry Port at Heipang – Jos which we visited earlier today. The strategic location of the North Central coordinating office is to ensure delivery of Council’s services in the North Central Zone.
“Plateau State is known for solid mineral resources, such as tin, platinum, zinc, iron ore and so on. The temperate climate of the state supports certain agricultural produce. These resources need access to both domestic and international markets. In addition to its other uses, the dry port in Heipang Jos will provide such access. I implore the good people of Plateau State to put it to optimal and beneficial use”, submitted.
The Minister maintained that the vision of the Ministry was to re-engineer the economy by establishing modern transport infrastructure that would strengthen the nation’s logistics value chain and support the development of the non-oil sector.
Photo: (R-L): Hassan Bello, Executive Secretary/CEO, Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, Honourable Minister of Transportation, Dr. Simon Lalong, Executive Governor, Plateau State, Dr. Magdalene Ajani, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Transportation and Mrs. Ify Okolie, Director, North Central Coordinating Office, NSC during the commissioning of on Friday.
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