January 21, 2025
By Adedoja Adesoji
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the establishment and development of Inland Dry Ports (IDP) in Ijebu-Ode and Moniya in Ogun State and Oyo State respectively.
This move is part of his efforts to reduce congestion within seaports in Lagos, eliminate chronic delays, and boost the nation’s economy.
According to the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, the Inland Dry Ports will generate jobs for the teeming youths of Ogun and Oyo States and other states in the Western part of the country.
Oyetola disclosed this in Abuja during the 2025 Budget Defence to the Joint Committee of the Senate on Marine Transport and House of Representatives Committees on Ports and Harbour, Maritime Safety, Education, and Administration, Inland Waterways, and Shipping Services.
“The Inland Dry Ports are targeted for fast-tracked delivery to decongest the Western Port System,” Oyetola said.
Design consultancies for the project are currently ongoing.
The Minister also highlighted the notable deficiencies in the maritime sector, including general infrastructure decay, silted river courses, inadequate fish production, and inadequate river crafts.
To address these challenges, the Ministry is initiating several projects and programs aimed at boosting ports infrastructural development, increasing fish production, maritime safety, and security.
Oyetola emphasized that the Federal Government is determined to consolidate and sustain the achievements and performances recorded last year.
The Government will focus on ports infrastructural development, increased fish production, maritime safety, and security, information technology deployment, human capacity building, and effective technical and economic regulation to ensure the strengthening of the blue economy across the country.
The Minister also disclosed that the Ministry finalized the preparation of Nigeria’s National Blue Economy Strategy, the Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy, the Strategic Roadmap for Nigeria’s Blue Economy, and the National Policy for Marine and Blue Economy under the 2024 appropriation.
As Oyetola noted, “The 2025 Budget is tagged ‘Budget of Restoration: Securing Peace, Rebuilding Prosperity.’ Therefore, the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy and its agencies under the 2025 Budget seek to consolidate and sustain the achievements and performances recorded in the immediate past year.”
