October 11, (THEWILL) – Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Alhaji Adegboyega Oyetola, on Friday, said that the new Gateway Inland Dry Port (GIDP), located at Kajola, Ewekoro Local Government Area of Ogun State, would create jobs for over 20,000 employment seekers and Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) and boost economic growth of the country.
Oyetola, who stated this at the groundbreaking ceremony of Inland Dry Port said that when the GIDP began operations, it would provide 5,000 direct jobs for hunters and 15,000 indirect jobs for small business owners and also attract both local and international investors for development of the Southwest region beginning from the host state.
He divulged that the Gateway Inland Dry Port would be constructed to international standard and
equipped with the latest digital systems for tracking, clearance, and cargo movement to ensure efficiency, transparency, and global competitiveness and be a model for other Inland Dry Ports in the country.
The minister stressed that the GIDP would help to solve first hand business challenges faced from neighbouring Lagos State due to transport congestion at the seaport which result to increased costs of transportation and longer transport times, noting that the project would boost the industrial hub position of the state in the country.
He maintained that the Inland Dry Port aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda to creating an enabling environment that fosters innovation, economic growth, and infrastructural development in the country, saying that the GIDP would provide faster and more efficient alternatives for moving goods and reduce burden on the nation’s coastal seaports.
Oyetola opined that the Port would enhance the efficiency of the logistics network and contribute to the decongestion of Apapa and Tin Can Ports, thus improving Nigeria’s trade competitiveness on the global stage, stating that the GIDP is a critical component to position Nigeria as a leading player in the Blue Economy, as the country continues to diversify its economy.
He said that the development of inland dry ports is a critical component of the broader strategy to position Nigeria as a leading player in the Blue Economy, stating that as the country continues to diversify its economy, it is essential to create infrastructure that serves as key nodes in the supply chain, thereby reducing reliance on traditional seaports.
The minister said, “This project is not merely about building infrastructure but about laying the foundation for a key logistics hub that will facilitate the movement of goods across Nigeria, creating over 5,000 direct jobs, 15,000 indirect jobs, and stimulating local businesses. Moreover, it will attract investments that will spur regional development, benefiting Ogun State and beyond.”
“No doubt, this project aligns seamlessly with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as we are committed to creating an enabling environment that fosters innovation, economic growth, and infrastructural development. This initiative will undoubtedly help Ogun State become a more attractive destination for businesses and investors, reinforcing our collective aspiration for a prosperous Nigeria.
“During a recent visit to a logistics hub in Lagos, I observed firsthand the challenges businesses face due to congestion at our traditional seaports, which result in longer transport times and increased costs. This experience highlights the urgent need for developing inland ports like the Gateway Inland Dry Port. Inland Dry Ports provide faster and more efficient alternatives for moving goods, ultimately benefiting our economy and reducing the burden on our coastal seaports”, he added.
The State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, said the Port would help in opening up and engendering more development in the state by serving as a transport and logistics hub for the nation.
“Having identified the ideal location convenient to our Gateway Dry Port inland container terminal, this facility is a key enabler of industrial activity and manufacturing in Ogun State. It will, on completion, increase the ranking of our State on the ease of doing business index. Because of the rail line right here, containers destined for Ogun can be ferried to Kajola and, on arrival, loaded onto the train and transported to Shederu, Kajola”, he noted.
