The Federal Government has formalized the development phase for the Gateway Inland Dry Port (IDP) at Papalanto, Ogun State, by inaugurating a Project Development Committee (PDC).
Minister of Marine and Blue Economy Adegboyega Oyetola said this action decisively underscores the Federal Government’s unwavering commitment to reforming and maximizing the potential within the nation’s maritime and logistics sector.
During the inauguration ceremony, the Minister who was represented by the Director of the Federal Department of Fishery and Aquaculture, Wellington Omoragbon, articulated that the PDC’s establishment is a concrete affirmation of the government’s strategic direction toward sustainable national economic growth facilitated by the Blue Economy.
The committee membership reflects a crucial multi-stakeholder approach, comprising representatives from the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, (FMMBE) the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), the Federal Ministry of Finance, the Ogun State Government, and the designated Concessionaire, Arise Group.
Oyetola specified the leadership structure as follows: The Permanent Secretary of the FMMBE, Olufemi Oloruntola, will serve as the Chairman, the Director of Maritime Services and the Executive Secretary, the NSC will serve as Co-Chair and Member, respectively. To safeguard institutional knowledge, the Secretariat is mandated to be domiciled within the Inland Container Depot (ICD) division of the Ministry.
The Mandate of the Project Development Committee (PDC) includes: Formulating a comprehensive and workable roadmap for the efficient commissioning and sustained cargo flow of the Dry Port, Establishing necessary liaison frameworks with all pertinent Federal and State stakeholders.
Earlier, Executive Secretary, NSC, Pius Akutah acknowledged the Minister’s steadfast dedication to nationwide transport infrastructure development. Akutah stated that the Minister’s leadership has instilled renewed momentum in the logistics sector, strengthening the collective resolve to build an integrated transport system supporting Nigeria’s economy.
