NPA Enhances Inland Dry Ports to Boost Cargo Movement

The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) is taking steps to resolve rail connectivity and infrastructure challenges at inland dry ports to enhance cargo movement and reduce logistics bottlenecks. This initiative follows the transfer of operational oversight of inland dry ports to the NPA by the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr Adegboyega Oyetola.

NPA Managing Director, Dr Abubakar Dantsoho, announced this during a meeting with Mr Ahmad Rabiu, Executive Director of Dala Inland Dry Port, and representatives from Funtua Inland Dry Port at the NPA headquarters in Marina, Lagos. Dantsoho emphasized the necessity to upgrade infrastructure and technical capacity at these facilities to support ongoing modernization at seaports and manage increasing cargo volumes.

He called for enhanced private-sector investment to boost cargo-handling capacity and operational efficiency, citing APM Terminals' establishment of an Export Processing Terminal in Northern Nigeria as a model. Dantsoho assured stakeholders of the NPA's commitment to optimizing the inland port system and announced plans to visit the Dala and Funtua facilities for assessments.