The Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) has called on state governments in the south east to support its plan to development of a truck transit park in the region.
Chief Executive Officer of the Council, Hassan Bello, who was represented by the Director Inland Trade Services, Akintunde Makinde made the call during a presentation at the annual lecture series of the Onitsha Chamber of Commerce Industry, Mines and Agriculture (ONICCIMA) recently in Onitsha, Anambra state.
Speaking on “Sustenance of Nigeria’s economic growth through port reforms: The case of Onitsha Ports”; Bello said the truck park is instrumental to the development of the nation’s maritime industry. He it will help in the creation of employment opportunities and related socio-economic services, improve internally generated revenue for state governments and also improve transit trade with landlocked neighbouring countries.
“A modern state of the art facility situated off the busy highways is designed to provide temporary rest where truck drivers will conveniently park their vehicles in a healthy environment, get accommodation, fuel, food, rest rooms and even service their vehicles,” he said.
He said NSC will coordinate and moderate the process of setting up the facilities across the country.
“We shall remain open, independent, neutral and consultative while all our decisions will be based on the buy-in of stakeholders at all times.
“I want to place on record the fact that NSC views the actualization of the Inland Dry Ports (IDP), Container Freight Station (CFS), Truck Transit Park (TTP), and the River Port projects as of paramount importance to the advancement of the economy of the South-East Zone. Hence, we will not relent in all our efforts towards ensuring their realization in the nearest future.
“To achieve these, our goals, we need your support to weather the storm in all our endeavours,” Bello was quoted by the NS Public Affairs unit as saying.