Container matters.

A 20,000 twenty foot container equivalent unit (TEU) port facility to serve shippers within Nigeria and neighbouring countries that use Nigeria as a hub for the movement of their cargoes will put a modern face to the ancient reputation of Jos as a centre for commerce and tourism. Melford Ita reports from Nigeria.

18 January 2007 marked the foundation laying and turning of sod ceremony at the Jos inland container depot (ICD), Heipang. Chairman of the occasion, former Head of State Dr Yakubu Gowon urged the people to take full advantage of the opportunities being offered, and thanked the Federal Government for siting the project in Plateau State.

Mallam Muhammed Habib Aliyu, Minister of State for Water Transportation in the Federal Ministry of Transportation said ICDs and Container Freight Stations (CFSs) are catalysts for economic growth. The Minister expressed that in March 2006, President Obasanjo approved the establishment of ICD and CFS sites across the country. The Jos ICD is the second project commissioned in Nigeria; second only to Kano, which was flagged off in September 2006. Other locations including Aba, Bauchi, Ibadan, Funtua and Maiduguri are to be operated under the build, own, operate and transfer (BOOT) agreement. For land provision, and acceptance of the project by all and sundry in the state, Minister Aliyu articulated the Federal Government's appreciation.

The Nigerian Shippers' Council (NSC) is an entrusted guarantor of the BOOT agreement. Its Executive Secretary, Captain Adamu Biu said when completed the Jos ICD--a 20,000 TEU port facility--would enable importers and exporters within the North Central zone; Jos, Kaduna, Nasarawa, Benue, Kogi, Kwara, Niger, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT-Abuja) and other areas, to receive containerised and other cargo by rail from Lagos, Port Harcourt, and Warri.

Biu said rail transport has the advantage of security, speed and bulk carriage. Export cargo consolidation for onward transportation to seaports would be enhanced, and activities such as clearing of goods, payment of customs levies and other duties will be performed at the ICD site, thus generating employment and stimulating new businesses and industries within its borders and environs. Besides, truck haulage from the site to consignees will involve numerous trucks and drivers including freight forwarders, clearing agents, customs officials, policemen and other agencies. Overall, shippers within Nigeria and neighbouring countries that use Nigeria as a hub for the movement of their cargoes would benefit. Biu thanked the people of Plateau State; congratulated the Federal Government for adopting the vision as part of its reform programme, and for its commitment to providing a meaningful and lasting solution to many of the problems faced by Nigeria's hinterland shippers.

In Nigeria, the ICD concept was introduced in 1979 when the defunct Elder Dempster Lines and the United Kingdom West Africa Liner Conference (UKWAL) collaborated with National Insurance Corporation of Nigeria (NICON) to establish ICD in Kano, under management of Inland Container Nigeria Limited (ICNL). The first container was delivered to Kano ICD in 1980. By end of its full year of operation, the experiment was deemed so successful that a second ICD was initiated in Kaduna--commencing operation in 1982. Other places were earmarked for additional ICD sites; unfortunately, these were plagued with problems leading to their demise. In the mid 80s, Kano and Kaduna ICD managers appealed to the Federal Ministry of Transport to come to their rescue. The matter was referred to the NSC for appraisal and advice, thus marking a beginning of the NSCs' involvement in promoting ICDs as a component of transport infrastructure for hinterland shippers.

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The Plateau State Governor Chief Michael Botmang--whilst delivering his keynote address and the handing over of documents on the site to Minister Aliyu--pledged continued support by the state government towards realisation of the project, which when completed will put a modern face to the ancient reputation of Jos as a centre for commerce and tourism.

In his vote of thanks, Dr Godfrey Bawa--Managing Director Duncan Group of Companies: licensed to construct and operate the Jos ICD--lauded the Federal Government's efforts in Public-Private Partnerships (PPP). Dr Bawa said the Federal Government has taken considerable steps to bring economic growth and development to the country and that the ICD concept is a further affirmation of an ongoing endeavour. Furthermore, in accordance with Government's poise to empower citizens, more instructively all Government approved ICDs are to be operated by entirely indigenous companies, he added. Dr Bawa conveyed to the people of Plateau State, and the entire north central and north-eastern communities, that Duncan Maritime Ventures Ltd would impose its longstanding tradition of excellence in the management and operation of the facility. While assuring quality service delivery to clients of the ICD, Dr Bawa thanked the Plateau State Government, the NSC and stakeholders for their support and co-operation.

Plateau is one of thirty-six States that make up the Federal Republic of Nigeria, including the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The State derived its name from the Jos Plateau--an ubiquitous and predominant geographical landscape in the middle belt of the nation. With elevations ranging from 500-1600 metres above sea level, the State's topography is characterised with picturesque landscape, undulating highlands and hills including hydrographical heads of many rivers; some are fast flowing and have formed waterfalls such as Assop and Kura.

For many years--until 1967--Plateau State was part of the old Bauchi Emirate, at which time Nigeria under the leadership of General Yakubu Gowon was divided into twelve States. The second State creation exercise in 1976 under the leadership of General Murtala Muhammed resulted in carving an independent Plateau State out of the Old Benue-Plateau State, as it was formerly known.

Covering 26,899 square kilometres, Plateau State is bordered in the North West by Kaduna State, in the North East by Bauchi State, in the South West and West by Nasarawa State and in the South East by Taraba State. Although situated in the tropic zone, it has a temperate climate; averaging between 18.70 and 51.70 Fahrenheit, with annual rainfall varying from 131.75cm in the South to 146cm on the Plateau. Owing to the Harmattan winds, between December and February the weather is cold. Though temperatures seem highest between March and April, the Plateau remains cool, ideally supporting a high concentration of expatriates.