FG restates commitment to harness potentials in marine, logistics sector

… inaugurates project development committee for inland dry port in Ogun

The Federal Government has reaffirmed its unwavering commitment towards reforming and maximising the potential within the nation’s maritime and logistics sector.

Speaking during the inauguration a project development committee for the Gateway Inland Dry Port at Papalanto, Ogun state, the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, said the project would further boost the growth of the industry.

Represented by the Director of the Federal Department of Fishery and Aquaculture, Wellington Omoragbon, the minister articulated that the PDC’s establishment is a concrete affirmation of the government’s strategic direction toward sustainable national economic growth facilitated by the Blue Economy.

The committee membership reflects a crucial multi-stakeholder approach, comprising representatives from 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.

Oyetola specified the leadership structure as follows: The Permanent Secretary of the FMMBE, Olufemi Oloruntola, will serve as the Chairman, the Director of Maritime Services and the Executive Secretary, the NSC will serve as Co-Chair and Member, respectively. To safeguard institutional knowledge, the Secretariat is mandated to be domiciled within the Inland Container Depot (ICD) division of the Ministry.

According to a statement by Mrs Anastasia Ogbonna, the Mandate of the Project Development Committee (PDC) includes: Formulating a comprehensive and workable roadmap for the efficient commissioning and sustained cargo flow of the Dry Port.

“Establishing necessary liaison frameworks with all pertinent Federal and State stakeholders; Designing targeted strategies to effectively sensitise stakeholders regarding operational procedures for Dry Port utilisation and overseeing and coordinating all procurement activities in strict compliance with the ICRC Act 2005 and the Public Procurement Act 2007,” the statement read.

The statement noted further that earlier at the event, the Executive Secretary, NSC, Pius Akutah, acknowledged the minister’s steadfast dedication to nationwide transport infrastructure development.

Akutah stated that the Minister’s leadership has instilled renewed momentum in the logistics sector, strengthening the collective resolve to build an integrated transport system supporting Nigeria’s economy.

He added that Inland Dry Ports function as vital inland extensions of seaports, serving as economic growth catalysts by linking producers and exporters directly to international trade arteries.

The Gateway IDP is historically significant, forming part of the Federal Executive Council’s 2006 approval for establishing six Dry Ports across the Geo-Political Zones via the Build, Own, Operate, and Transfer (BOOT) Public Private Partnership (PPP) model.

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