The Federal Government’s plan to improve trade facilities and reduce congestion at seaports has moved forward as the Ogun State Government officially gave 130 hectares of land to the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy for the construction of the Ijebu-Ode Inland Dry Port.
This handover is an important step in the government’s goal to make trade easier and create a major logistics and cargo center in Ijebu-Ode. The project will help connect different transport systems and reduce the heavy traffic at the Lagos ports.
Speaking at the signing of the Transfer of Rights, Control, and Possession, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Olufemi Oloruntola, said the government is fully committed to finishing the project quickly. He explained that the project is part of a wider effort to improve port operations, strengthen regional trade, and make the movement of goods across the country smoother.
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Representing Governor Dapo Abiodun, the Ogun State Commissioner for Transportation, Engr. Gbenga Dairo, said the land handover shows the state’s willingness to work with the Federal Government to improve Nigeria’s trade infrastructure and expand its transport network.
The event was attended by important figures in the maritime industry, including Dr. Mercy Ilori, Director of Maritime Services; Pius Akutah, Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council; and officials from the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA). They all expressed confidence that the project would bring great benefits to the sector.
The Ijebu-Ode Inland Dry Port is part of a national plan to build dry ports in different regions to make cargo handling easier and boost economic growth. Similar projects are already happening in Ibadan, Kano, Funtua, and Jos to help improve logistics and lower trade costs across Nigeria.
When completed, the Ijebu-Ode Dry Port will improve goods distribution, attract investors, and make Ogun State an important logistics hub in the South-West.
