The Inland Container Depot (ICD) in Heipang, Jos, Plateau State, is set to get a new investor following the buyout of the Duncan Maritime Ventures, the concessionaire of the project.

This was made known at a recent meeting with stakeholders, by the Director Inland Transport Services Mr. Akintunde Makinde, at the Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC) Corporate Headquarter in Lagos.

Makinde, who represented the Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of NSC, Mr. Hassan Bello, stated that the meeting was a directive from the Federal Government and the mandate given by the Minister of Transportation, Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amechi, that all Inland Container Depot Projects (ICD) in the country must be completed and commissioned as soon as possible.

He noted that the Council promotes and facilitates the establishment of Inland Container Depot (ICD) in Nigeria on the basis of Public Private Partnership (PPP). The ICDs, he stated, are to bring shipping services to the door step of shippers, assist in decongesting the seaport and revive and modernise the railway.

One of the representatives of the Plateau State Government, Mr. Ezekiel Gomos, said the State Government is enthusiastic about the project and the opportunities the ICD will bring for the economic development of its people.

On his part, another member of the contingent, Engr. David J. Wuyep, said that the Plateau State Government seeks joint collaboration to make ICD functional, adding that as a state, they are ready and prepare as the issues of insecurity has being tackled.

In view of this, the Managing Director of Duncan Maritime Ltd, Mr. Bartho Nyelong, said their inability to bring about implementation of the project was due to certain challenges that made them to take such decision.

The representative of the Plateau State Government thanked Duncan Maritime Venture for their commitment to the project thus far, in achieving a common objective for the states.