Oyetola Inaugurates Committee to Fast-Track Gateway Inland Dry Port Project

…Restates FG’s commitment to harnessing blue economy opportunities

Emmanuel Daudu

In a strategic move to accelerate Nigeria’s maritime infrastructure growth, the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, H.E. Adegboyega Oyetola, CON, has inaugurated a Project Development Committee (PDC) for the Gateway Inland Dry Port (IDP) located in Papalanto, Ogun State.

The inauguration marks a major step in the Federal Government’s drive to unlock the vast economic potential of the maritime and logistics sector under the Blue Economy framework.

Represented by the Director of the Federal Department of Fishery and Aquaculture, Wellington Omoragbon, the Minister said the initiative reflects the administration’s determination to reform, modernize, and fully harness the sector’s role in driving sustainable national growth.

According to Oyetola, the formation of the Project Development Committee is a “concrete affirmation of the Federal Government’s strategic direction” toward ensuring that the inland port becomes a functional hub supporting seamless trade and logistics operations across the region.

The committee draws membership from key stakeholders, including the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy (FMMBE), the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), the Federal Ministry of Finance, the Ogun State Government, and the designated concessionaire, Arise Group.

Under the structure announced, the Permanent Secretary of FMMBE, Olufemi Oloruntola, will serve as Chairman, while the Director of Maritime Services and the Executive Secretary of the NSC will serve as Co-Chair and Member, respectively. To preserve institutional knowledge and coordination, the Secretariat will operate within the Ministry’s Inland Container Depot (ICD) Division.

The PDC’s mandate includes:

Developing a comprehensive roadmap for the effective commissioning and sustained operation of the Dry Port.

Establishing strong liaison frameworks with relevant federal and state agencies.

Designing strategies to sensitize stakeholders on Dry Port utilization.

Overseeing all procurement processes in line with the ICRC Act 2005 and the Public Procurement Act 2007.

Speaking earlier, the Executive Secretary of the NSC, Pius Akutah, commended the Minister’s leadership and unwavering commitment to advancing Nigeria’s transport infrastructure. He noted that Inland Dry Ports are critical trade enablers, serving as inland extensions of seaports that connect producers and exporters to global markets and boost economic productivity.

The Gateway Inland Dry Port, approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) in 2006, is one of six inland ports initiated under the Build, Own, Operate, and Transfer (BOOT) Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model.

With the committee’s inauguration, the Federal Government reaffirms its resolve to position the Blue Economy as a key driver of diversification, job creation, and sustainable national growth.