Governor of Kano State, Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso has commended Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) for its contributions to the social and economic development of Kano State through its continuous participation in the Kano International Trade Fairs over the years.
The Governor gave the commendation in Kano during the Nigeria Ports Authority’s Day at the just concluded 35th Edition of Kano International Trade Fair which was held between Saturday 22nd November and 4th December, 2014.
According to the Governor, the NPA has not only participated but, but has both sponsored and partnered with the Kano Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture, (KACCIMA), organizers of the Fair, to ensure the success of the annual event.
Represented by the Permanent Secretary, Kano State Ministry of Agriculture, Alhaji Mohammed Dankande Ibrahim, Kwankwanso said the theme for this year Fair, which was “Promoting Agriculture and Other Non-oil Business Sector for Sustainable Development”, was chosen to demonstrate the determination of the state government to explore other revenues sources, encourage and to support the people of Kano, majority of which he said are farmers.
He solicited the support of NPA in positioning agriculture as an alternative source of revenue for the State and Federal Governments in view of the present dwindling revenue from oil as a result of falling prices of oil in the world market.
Also speaking, the President of KACCIMA, Alhaji Umar Dansuleka thanked NPA for its support and called for a sustainable mutual economic relationship between both organisations.
Dansuleka disclosed that in a bid to encourage Kano businessmen and women who may want to do business with NPA but may be discouraged by distance, the chamber has provided an office for such transactions and urged NPA to ensure that the office becomes operational.
The President also enjoined NPA to assist the chamber to ensure the full utilization of the inland container depot in Kano so as to alleviate the problems being faced by Kano businessmen in transporting their cargo from Lagos to Kano.
Responding, the NPA Managing Director, Mallam Habib Abdullahi expressed condolences to the government and people of Kano on the recent bomb blast where many people lost their lives.
Represented by the Assistant General Manager, Seaview Properties Ltd – a subsidiary of NPA – Engr. Phillipson Falade, Abdullahi said inland container depot, also known as dry port is paramount to NPA operations, adding however that dry ports cannot function without an efficient rail network.
He said NPA was more concerned about the functionality of the dry ports than the chamber because “it will further decongest the port and its access roads”.
Commissioner for Trade and Commerce, Zamfara State, Hon Umaru Jibo Bukkuyam, who attended the NPA Day at the fair, lauded the efforts of the Authority in promoting economic activities in the northern part of Nigeria even as he invited the organisation to be part of the Zamfara State Trade Fair billed to hold at on a yet-to-be-disclosed date.
The Emir of Kano, His Royal Highness, Alhaji Muhammed Sanusi II was represented at the event by the Makaman Kano, Alhaji Seriki Abdullahi Ibrahim.
Copyright Ships & Ports Ltd. Permission to use quotations from this article is granted subject to appropriate credit given to www.shipsandports.com.ng as the source.