The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), Barr. Hassan Bello has revealed that the Federal Government expects two or three Inland Container Depots (ICDs) functioning by 2017.
Hassan Bello said this during a meeting with the ICD concessionaires at the headquarters of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council earlier today.
According to Hassan Bello, the federal government sees the development of ICDs as a viable tool for diversifying the nation’s economy in order to generate more revenue for the nation.
However, Hassan Bello also stressed that the government was ready to revoke the license of any concessionaire who wasn’t making appreciable progress, stating that the licenses had been issued 13 years ago.
“ICDs should serve as the foundation for the Nigerian economy as the federal government looks to diversifying as well as improving the transport sector and facilitating exports.
ICDs would develop the economy of those places where the ports are cited by creating employment as it creates an industrial zone that would bring industries to compliment the dry port” Hassan Bello said.
While Hassan Bello noted that the government was committed towards making the ICDs a reality, he also maintained that the government expects to see a high level of commitment on the part of the concessionaires.
The Shippers’ Council has also begun to redeploy staff to monitor the development of the ICDs at the various locations. Moreover, the concessionaires were also given a new agreement and 2-weeks ultimatum to study and return back to the Shippers’ Council.
