Business
Dala Inland Dry Port set to take off after N2.3 billion investment – Kano Govt.
The Government of Kano State has announced the readiness of its Dala Inland Dry Port project.
After spending N2.3 billion to provide key infrastructure, the Government of Kano State has announced that the Dala Inland Dry Port project in the state is ready for take-off.
This disclosure was made by the Governor of Kano State, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, during his visit to the Nigerian Shippers’ Council Headquarters in Lagos State.
READ: IDB to support 1.26 million farmers with $95 million
Governor Abdullahi Ganduje in his statement to newsmen during his visit stressed that the government of Kano state is ready for the takeoff of the Dala Inland Dry Port project.
He reiterated that the port was created to boost the Kano state’s economy and that of Nigeria in general. In line with this objective, the port will be serving the Kano State people and other states in the Northern part of Nigeria. In like manner, the port is expected to boost regional trades of other West African countries.
READ: Aliko Dangote Foundation Engages 54gene Laboratory to Conduct 1,000 COVID-19 Tests per Day in Kano
The Governor’s visitation reflects the importance of the project. During the meeting, both parties conceded that establishing a destination dry port in Kano state is long overdue, due to the economic significance of the state, its strategic position, and the strategic link it will provide to trade development within the Northern region and other Western African countries.
What you should know
Dala Inland Dry Port project is a logistics park located at Zawachiki in Kumbotso LGA of Kano State. The port is expected to provide services from transportation, haulage, and warehousing to custom clearing services in the export processing zone.
However, the project is a collaboration between the Nigerian Shippers’ Council and Kano State Government, in a bid to kickstart the project and turn it into a destination port in the region.
READ: FG to launch Single window project, deploy scanners at seaports,
According to the Nigerian Shippers Council, the port upon completion should be able to accommodate up to the equivalent of 20,020ft units of capacity. However, after three years, the port is expected to be operating at 50,000ft equivalent unit.
Explore Data on the Nairametrics Research Website
Use Advanced Financial Calculators on Nairametrics
What they are saying
The Nigerian Shippers’ Council emphasized that the Dala Inland Dry Port operations will be a significant investment in driving the Modern dry port operation in Nigeria.
The council stated that the project is of economic significance given what the project seeks to deliver in terms of value to the economy, as it is expected to serve as an economic outlet for the industrial city of Kano and its environs, as well as serve landlocked countries.
READ: AfCFTA forces FG to revamp port infrastructure to avert trade loss
Also, the port is set to capitalize on the rail infrastructure of the country, especially the rail from Kano to Jibia in Katsina, and also the rail from Lagos to kano state, which will serve as the pedestal for the success of the operations of the Dry inland port.
The Governor of Kano State said it had invested N2.3 billion in infrastructure, in order to provide access road, electricity, water, and perimeter fence to the site. That said, the State is ready for the take-off of the project.
Business
Third Mainland Bridge: Lagos to close Adekunle to Adeniji section of the bridge
The Adekunle to Adeniji section of the Third Mainland Bridge will be shut down for another round of repairs on Friday night.
The Lagos State Government on Wednesday announced the shutdown of the Adekunle to Adeniji section of the Third Mainland Bridge for the second round of repairs with effect from midnight of Friday, October 30, 2020, to Sunday, November 1, 2020.
The disclosure was made in a statement by the Commissioner for Transportation, Frederic Oladeinde and signed by Bolanle Ogunlola, on behalf of the Ministry of Transportation’s Public Affairs Unit, on Wednesday, October 28, 2020.
Ogunlola said the move is in “furtherance of the partial closure of the Third Mainland Bridge occasioned by the ongoing first phase rehabilitation works nearing completion.”
The statement partly reads, “The Lagos State Government has announced that there will be a total closure of the Adekunle to Adeniji section of the bridge for the second time from midnight of Friday 30th October to Sunday 1st November 2020.’’
Oladeinde said, “This second phase closure of the repair works is coming two weeks behind schedule as a result of delays occasioned by the recent mayhem around the Lagos metropolis.”
He pointed out that the decision to close the section of the bridge for repairs is to prevent vibrations on the bridge during the casting-in-place of the newly installed expansion joints which in turn will allow the special concrete achieve its required compressive strength.
The Transport Commissioner had earlier explained that the casting of the expansion joints would be in two phases due to the number of expansion joints that will be cast and to effectively manage the attendant traffic, hence, repair works slated for weekends to minimize inconveniences that may arise from the total closure.
While commending residents of the state for being patient since the commencement of the project, the commissioner said hinted that the previous alternative routes remain the same for road users to utilize during the closure period, while LASTMA and other Traffic Management Agencies will be on the ground to direct traffic for easy vehicular movement.
He also “assured that the section of the bridge between Adekunle and Iyana–Oworo still remains open, as well as Ebute Metta outbound section into Iyana-Oworo.”
Nairametrics had reported the partial closure of the Third Mainland Bridge by the Federal Government for maintenance work for a period of 6 months with effect from July 24, 2020. A few weeks ago, the government announced a total shutdown of the bridge for 3 days to vehicular movement
This is to enable the contractors to carry out special repair works and complete the first stage of casting works on the bridge.
Business
FG approves N2.9 billion contracts to print examination materials
Federal Executive Council approved the award of the contract for the printing of examination materials.
The Federal Executive Council has approved N2.9 billion contracts for the printing of sensitive and non-sensitive examination materials.
This was disclosed by the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, after the Council meeting, which was led by President Muhammadu Buhari, on Wednesday.
READ: FG approves $3 billion Port Harcourt-Maiduguri railway and $462 million Bonny deep seaport
Adamu, who was with the Minister of Information and Culture; Lai Mohammed; and Minister of the FCT, Mohammed Bello, explained that the recent disturbances as a result of the protests were the reason the ministry postponed the examinations.
He said, “Today, the Federal Executive Council approved the award of the contract for the printing of examination materials – both sensitive and non-sensitive. The contract is worth N2.9 billion.
READ: FG approves $3.1 billion for automation of Customs, targets $176 billion revenue
The contract, which was awarded to a group of eight printers, was meant for materials of the Basic Education Certification Examination, the Senior Secondary Certificate Examination and the National Common Entrance.
READ: How to access new N75 billion Nigerian Youth Investment Fund
This came barely 2 days after the examination body had put on hold all her 2020 school certificate activities due to the curfew and closure of schools in some parts of the country.
READ: FEC approves $40 oil benchmark for 2021 budget
Explore Data on the Nairametrics Research Website
Business
UK High Commission reopens visa application centres in Nigeria
Days after it was shut down, United Kingdom High Commission in Nigeria has announced the reopening of its visa application centres.
The United Kingdom High Commission in Nigeria has announced the reopening of its visa application centres in the country.
This comes some days after the high commission had shut down its visa application centres in Victoria Island, Lagos and Abuja over the outbreak of violence arising from hijacked #EndSARS protests against police brutality and extra-judicial killings, which led to the loss of lives, vandalization, and looting of public and private assets across the country.
READ: Reps, NIDO, Ghana government respond to attack on Nigerian residential building
The disclosure was made by the High Commission in a statement through a tweet post on its official Twitter handle.
The High Commission, however, noted in its statement, titled, “Update on UK visa application centres in Nigeria” that its centres would not open on Thursday due to the public holiday in Nigeria, in honour of the Eid-El Malaud celebration.
The statement from the UK high commission, partly reads, “Our TLS contact visa application centres are now open in Nigeria. Following the recent closures, we are working hard to process all outstanding applications.’’
READ: NCC sets up committee to review licensing framework of Infrastructure Companies
“We thank you for your continued patience and understanding. Please note Thursday, October 29, is a public holiday in Nigeria and our Visa application centres will be closed.”
The reopening of the visa applications centres after they were shut about a week ago is due to the gradual return of peace and order to some of those trouble spots, following the intervention of security agents.
The UK High Commission had been very critical of the outbreak of violence in the country, especially the shooting of unarmed protesters at Lekki Tollgate by alleged military personnel, and asked the government to thoroughly investigate the incident and ensure justice is done.
READ: Buhari gives reason for silence on Lekki Tollgate shooting
In its statement, the High Commission said, “We remain concerned by acts of looting and violence in Nigeria and urge security services use restraint as the order is restored. Working with all stakeholders, judicial panels of inquiry must investigate all incidents, including Lekki and ensure accountability for crimes.”
What you should know
The Judicial Panel of Inquiry set up by the Lagos state government to handle all cases of police brutality in the state have also been mandated to conduct an inquiry into the shooting of unarmed protesters last week.
Amnesty International earlier said that 12 people were allegedly shot dead by the police and army at two locations during the hijacked protests.
Explore Data on the Nairametrics Research Website
Please see below 👇🏼 for an update on UK Visa Application Centres in Victoria Island, Abuja & Lagos.
➡️ For queries on individual applications, please visit: https://t.co/Z6U3959iB1 pic.twitter.com/kSlk5OBLtC
— UK in Nigeria🇬🇧 (@UKinNigeria) October 26, 2020
Third Mainland Bridge: Lagos to close Adekunle to Adeniji section of the bridge
COVID-19 Update in Nigeria
House of Reps to make Youths globally competitive
COVID-19: Ogun orders full reopening of churches, mosques, hotels
CBN reveals framework for the N75 billion Youth Investment Fund
COVID-19 Update in Nigeria
Daily Parallel Market Exchange Rate – ₦460/$1
Buhari approves free business name registration for 250,000 SMEs
Nigeria’s treasury bills rate falls to 0.5% per annum
Nigeria’s Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala close to being announced as new DG of WTO
