Blue Economy Ministry Validates Moniya IDP Reports, Builds on Ijebu-Ode Dry Port Gains
The Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy (FMMBE) recently convened a high-level stakeholders’ meeting
to review and validate consultant reports for the proposed Moniya Inland Dry Port (IDP) Project.
The latest validation exercise was held in Ibadan, Oyo State. It follows the successful validation of the Ijebu-Ode IDP, reinforcing the Ministry’s commitment to bringing shipping services closer to Nigeria’s hinterlands to decongest ports, slash logistics costs, and strengthen trade corridors._
At the event, the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola, said the stakeholders’ meeting was held to advance discussions on the Moniya Inland Dry Port Project. He noted that Moniya and the greater Ibadan axis have long served as critical commercial and transit corridors linking the South-West to the northern and eastern parts of the country. “This makes the choice of location both timely and highly strategic,” he said._
Represented by the Director, Maritime Services Department, FMMBE, Mr. Oyinloye Meshack highlighted that Inland Dry Ports like Moniya are vital interventions designed to decentralise port services, reduce pressure on coastal ports, and bring logistics closer to cargo origins and destinations.
In a statement by Anastasia Ogbonna, the Ministry’s Director of Information and Public Relations, the Minister noted that the project is strongly positioned near Ibadan — one of Nigeria’s largest urban and industrial centres — with connectivity to major highways and ongoing rail infrastructure, and the potential to unlock agro-export opportunities from the surrounding agricultural belt._
“Beyond infrastructure, this initiative speaks directly to broader national priorities such as job creation, trade facilitation, regional integration, and improved competitiveness under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA),” Oyetola added.
The Minister’s representative urged robust stakeholder input to refine the consultant reports, stressing the need to address land use, host community interests, environmental sustainability, infrastructure connectivity, and institutional coordination.
“We must collectively ensure that these issues are carefully addressed. The success of this project will depend on how well we integrate these factors into a coherent and actionable framework” he observed.
“As we proceed, I encourage open, frank, and solution-oriented discussions. Let us work together to refine this project into a model Inland Dry Port that can serve as a catalyst for economic transformation in Oyo State and beyond,” he continued.
In his remarks, the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Musibau Adetunji Babatunde, who represented the Oyo State Governor, said the project underscores a strong partnership between the State and the Ministry to position Oyo as a premier transit hub for the nation._
According to him, beyond improving shipping efficiency, the proposed Inland Dry Port will serve as a major economic engine for the region upon completion, generating thousands of jobs and fostering industrial growth._
Babatunde added that the facility will serve as a dedicated export gateway for manufactured goods and agricultural produce, significantly boosting the state’s internally generated revenue and national GDP._
The SSG stated further that the Oyo State Government is prioritising infrastructure to transform the Moniya IDP into a world-class logistics centre that will ease traffic congestion at maritime ports and improve trade efficiency in West Africa._
The stakeholders’ meeting will produce validated recommendations to fast-track the next phase of the Moniya Inland Dry Port development and advance the Federal Government’s Blue Economy agenda._
