The Nigerian Shippers’ Council has entered into partnership with the Oyo State Government for the development of inland dry port and truck transit park in conjunction with some Chinese investors in the state, a statement from the council has indicated.
The partnership arrangement was unfolded when the Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of the NSC, Mr. Hassan Bello, paid a courtesy visit to the Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, the statement added.
It quoted Bello as saying that the collaboration with the Oyo State government on the establishment of the IDP would bring about a lot of developments to the Nigerian economy, stressing that Oyo State was critical to the development of transportation in view of its strategic location.
He added that since 2006, the Federal Government had taken a decision to establish the IDPs in the six geo-political zones of the country.
He said that the establishment of the IDP and the TTP in the state would provide job opportunities and create wealth for the state because transportation had remained a driving force in the national economy.
“The ongoing rail project being championed by the Ministry of Transportation will be a big boost to the IDPs as it will help decongest the heavy traffic on the road as well as facilitate easy movement of goods from Lagos ports to different locations in the country,” Bello said.
According to him, the proposed TTP alone would gulp N4.8bn through the Public Private Partnership arrangement, adding that the facilities will have shopping mall, hotels, motels, worship centre, commercial banks and restaurants, among others.
He noted that a Memorandum of Understanding was signed recently with the Chinese investors for the development of Ibadan IDP project, adding that the interest shown by the investors was in consideration of the strategic importance of Ibadan.
The Governor of Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, was quoted as saying that his administration would support the council and called on the council to hasten the paperwork required for the project to begin.
Ajimobi said that the project would cause a remarkable reduction in road carnage, improvement in economic activities and job opportunities.
