The Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA is working to integrate inland dry ports into the country’s maritime logistics network, with infrastructure upgrades, rail connectivity and digital systems identified as key priorities.
The move follows a directive by the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, transferring operational oversight of inland dry ports to the NPA.
The NPA Managing Director, Abubakar Dantsoho, stated the priorities during a meeting with the Executive Director of Dala Inland Dry Port, Ahmad Rabiu, and representatives of Funtua Inland Dry Port at the authority’s corporate headquarters in Lagos.
Dantsoho said inland dry ports must upgrade their infrastructure and technical capacity to align with modernisation efforts at the nation’s seaports, particularly Apapa and Tin Can Island ports, where a $1 billion loan facility has been secured for comprehensive upgrades.
He said the integration of digital systems, including the Port Community System and National Single Window, at seaports must be matched by modern equipment and improved technical capacity at inland facilities to handle growing cargo volumes.
The NPA managing director also called for increased private sector investment in the dry port system, citing APM Terminals’ establishment of an Export Processing Terminal in northern Nigeria as an example of private sector participation.
He said the authority planned to visit the Dala and Funtua facilities as part of efforts to advance the integration process.
Speaking on behalf of the delegation, Hassan Bello welcomed the transfer of oversight to the NPA and cited rail connectivity and wider logistics constraints among the challenges affecting inland dry ports.
Bello also referred to the Port Act, which designates inland dry ports as official ports of origin and destination.
The meeting established a framework for further technical consultations, infrastructure planning and stakeholder coordination, with physical inspections and technical reviews expected to help guide subsequent development decisions.