Ogun allocates 130 hectares for Ijebu-Ode inland dry port

By Isaac Joseph Inyang

The Ogun State Government has approved the allocation of 130 hectares of land along the Epe/Mojoda Expressway, Ijebu-Ode, to the Federal Government for the establishment of the Ijebu-Ode Inland Dry Port.

The approval follows a formal request from the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Mr. Gboyega Oyetola, who, in a letter dated June 26, 2025, sought the support of Governor Dapo Abiodun for the project.

According to industry experts, the inland dry port will decongest Lagos seaports, strengthen Ogun State’s industrial hub initiatives, and boost Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The facility is expected to function as a cargo consolidation and distribution hub for the South-West region, providing cost-effective logistics solutions for manufacturers and importers while promoting trade competitiveness.

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The proposed port will be linked by rail to the Lekki Deep Sea Port and connected to other critical infrastructure, including the Gateway International Agro-Cargo Airport and the proposed Kajola and Moniya Inland Dry Ports, creating a seamless transport and logistics network across Ogun and Oyo states.

Governor Abiodun, while speaking on the development, described the Ijebu-Ode port and the state’s cargo airport as “critical enablers of industrialization and regional competitiveness,” adding that the projects would transform Ogun into “a logistics and economic powerhouse, creating prosperity for our people and opportunities for Nigeria at large.”

The allocation comes months after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu approved the establishment of inland dry ports in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, and Moniya, Oyo State, as part of efforts to address congestion at Lagos ports, enhance cargo handling efficiency, and spur economic growth.

During the 2025 budget defence before the Joint Committee of the Senate on Marine Transport and the House Committees on Ports and Harbour, Maritime Safety, Education and Administration, Inland Waterways, and Shipping Services, Minister Oyetola assured that the projects would be expedited to create jobs and attract investment to the South-West.

Oyetola also identified infrastructure decay, inadequate fish production, silted river courses, and insufficient inland waterway facilities as major challenges in Nigeria’s maritime sector, pledging to implement targeted programmes to address these gaps. He added that design consultancy for the Ijebu-Ode project is already underway.

With the Kajola Inland Dry Port secured for the Ogun Central Industrial Cluster and the Ijebu-Ode project designated for the eastern corridor, the state government says it is strategically balancing development across all three senatorial districts to ensure equity and sustainable economic growth.