Nigerian Shippers’ Council, NSC, North Central Moves To Permanent Office, Proposes N15bn Five Star Edifice.

By Moses GbandeThe North- Central zonal Coordinating Office Complex of the Nigerian Shippers’Council, NSC has been opened.The Honourable Minister of Transportation, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, who performed the commissioning ceremony on Friday in Jos, the plateau state capital, commended the state Governor Simon Bako Lalong and the people of Plateau State for supporting the Federal Government’s efforts to diversify the nation’s economy.” I sincerely appreciate the presence of my dear brother, His Excellency, The Executive Governor of Plateau State, Rt. Hon. Simon Bako Lalong and the Chairman, Plateau State Traditional Council, HRM Gbong Gwom Jos, Da Jacob Jang Buba here represented by HRH Da Edward Gyang Bot, Dagwom Rwey of Barkin Ladi. Your presence is a testament to your support of the Federal Government’s efforts to diversify the nation’s economy.”The Federal Ministry of Transportation through the Nigerian Shippers’ Council’s activities highlights the benefits of the maritime sector as the best alternative for economic diversification. Let me state categorically that the transportation sector has the potential for employment, investment and growth of our nation’s international trade.With the support of the Ministry of Transportation, the Council is facilitating the development of Inland Dry Ports such as the Dry Port at Heipang — Jos which we visited earlier today. The strategic location of the North Central coordinating office is to ensure delivery of Council’s services in the North Central Zone.”Plateau State is known for solid mineral resources, such as Tin, Platinum, Zinc, Iron Ore and so on. The temperate climate of the State supports certain agricultural produce.”These resources need access to both domestic and international markets. In addition to its other uses, the Dry Port in Heipang Jos will provide such access. ! implore the good people of Plateau State to put it to optimal and beneficial use when completed.“Our vision is to re-engineer the economy by establishing modern transport infrastructure that will strengthen the nation’s logistics value chain and support the development of the non-oil sector.”The Maritime Resource Centre that the Council is promoting is a project with tremendous economic potentials for the state in terms of employment, tourism, intellectual development, etc. Thi Resource Centre will have huge socio-economic impact on th state and I urge the Plateau State government to partner with the Council in actualizing this project.”You have my assurance that the Federal Ministry of Transportation and its agencies are here to partner with the great people of Plateau State to achieve its potentials”.Earlier, the Executive Secretary/ Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Mr Hassan Bello ha also expressed the council’s desire to establish a maritime resource centre.In a documentary presented, for the proposed state of the earth Edifice, is to cost over N15bn, whereas when completed, hve 5 str hotel standard, the can be equated with international standard, if 300 parking slits, spotting facilities, super markets, barbing shalon, swimming pool and a multipurpose hall with 700 seating capacity, among others.In her rematks, the permanent secretary feeder ministry of transportation, Dr Magdalena Ajani expressed confident that the collaboration between Plateau State government and the Federal Ministry of Transportation will benefit the state and the nation as a whole.”With the ceremonial aspect of the commissioning, the real work begins and we -must not drop the ball. The proposed Maritime Resource Centre is a laudable project as it will not only impact on the socio-political economy of the State but will also put Nigeria on the World Tourism Map.”The Plateau State government and Federal Ministry of Transportation (Nigerian Shippers’ Council) need to immediately set up a Working Group for the actualization of the project.“This day will be remembered as it marks the beginning of another milestone in the history of Nigerian Shippers’ Council and indeed the Federal Ministry of Transportation”.