The Minister of Marine and Blue Economic system, Adegboyega Oyetola, has officiated the groundbreaking ceremony for the Gateway Inland Dry Port (GIDP), emphasizing that the Ogun State authorities and the concessionaire should make sure the port is constructed to worldwide requirements, able to assembly the calls for of recent commerce.
The Head, Press, and Public Relations Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economic system, Muhammad Tahir Zakari, in a press release famous that the occasion passed off on Friday, eleventh October, 2024.
In response to the assertion, the Minister gave the cost on the flag-off for the Gateway Inland Dry Port (GIDP) at Papalanto, Ewekoro Native Authorities Space, Ogun State noting that in a current go to to a logistics hub in Lagos, he noticed firsthand the challenges companies face resulting from congestion at our conventional seaports, which end in longer transport occasions and elevated prices. This expertise highlights the pressing want for creating inland ports just like the Gateway Inland Dry Port.
In response to him, Inland Dry Ports offers quicker and extra environment friendly options for shifting items, finally benefiting our economic system and lowering the burden on our coastal seaports.
“This venture just isn’t merely about constructing infrastructure however about laying the muse for a key logistics hub that may facilitate the motion of products throughout Nigeria, creating over 5,000 direct jobs, 15,000 oblique jobs and stimulating native companies,” Oyetola identified.
“The event of inland dry ports, like this one, is a essential element of our broader technique to place Nigeria as a number one participant within the Blue Economic system. As we proceed to diversify our economic system, it’s important to create infrastructure that serves as key nodes in our provide chain, lowering our reliance on conventional seaports. This Inland Dry Port will improve the effectivity of our logistics community, contributing to the decongestion of Apapa and Tin Can Ports and bettering Nigeria’s commerce competitiveness on the worldwide stage.”
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He additional assured that the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economic system is actively engaged on insurance policies to facilitate seamless port operations, together with the automation of processes and the modernisation of infrastructure.
As well as, he confirmed that the Ministry will proceed to work carefully with the Federal Ministry of Works to prioritise street building and upgrades, making certain seamless connectivity to main financial centres. By extension, the ministry will even have interaction the Federal Ministry of Transportation in order to make sure the event of rail connectivity to hyperlink the Inland Dry Port with key industrial hubs, together with the Lagos-Ibadan Normal Gauge Railway.
“Allow us to additionally do not forget that the advantages of this dry port lengthen past simply Ogun State; it’s a venture of nationwide significance.
The Inland Dry Port will reshape how we deal with logistics and commerce each inside and outdoors Nigeria. With this facility, we’re one step nearer to positioning our nation as a continental chief in commerce and logistics,” Oyetola stated.
Additionally talking on the flag-off ceremony, the Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, stated the ability is a key enabler of commercial exercise and manufacturing in Ogun State. It’s going to, on completion, enhance the rating of the state on the benefit of doing enterprise index.
“Due to the rail line proper right here, containers destined for Ogun may be ferried to Kajola and, on arrival, loaded onto the prepare and transported to Shederu, Kajola. Our producers will be capable of convey of their uncooked supplies with out having to undergo the trouble of going to Lagos Tin Can or Apapa Ports to clear and transport them while coping with the attendant demurrage prices that add to their total value of manufacturing.”
He assured that the groundbreaking occasion just isn’t merely the muse of a dry port, however the starting of a brand new period of financial development, job creation, and elevated prosperity, emphasizing that the venture is a testomony to the shared imaginative and prescient of prosperity and industrialization that might remodel the State into a number one logistics and business middle, each in Nigeria and throughout West Africa.