The Federal Government has taken a significant step toward advancing the proposed Moniya Inland Dry Port (IDP) in Oyo State, as the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy convened a high-level stakeholders’ meeting to review and validate consultant reports for the project.
The validation exercise, held in Ibadan, comes shortly after a similar milestone was achieved for the Ijebu-Ode Inland Dry Port, underscoring the government’s sustained push to expand inland port infrastructure and strengthen trade logistics across the country.
Speaking at the meeting, the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, represented by the Director of Maritime Services Department, Mr. Oyinloye Adeola Meshack, described the Moniya project as both timely and strategic.
“It is my honour to welcome you all to this important stakeholders’ meeting convened to advance discussions on the Moniya Inland Dry Port Project. 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.
He noted that inland dry ports are designed to decentralise port services, reduce congestion at seaports, and bring logistics operations closer to cargo sources and destinations.
Oyinloye further highlighted the project’s proximity to Ibadan, its access to major road networks and rail infrastructure, as well as its potential to unlock agro-export opportunities within the region.
“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),” he added.
The minister’s representative stressed the importance of stakeholder contributions in refining the consultant reports, urging participants to address key concerns including 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 said.
“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.”
Also speaking, the Secretary to the Oyo State Government, Prof. Musibau Adetunji Babatunde, who represented the state governor, said the initiative reflects a strong partnership between the state and the Federal Government aimed at positioning Oyo as a major transit hub.
According to him, the project is expected to drive economic growth and create employment opportunities.
“Beyond improving shipping efficiency, the proposed Inland Dry Port, upon completion, is expected to serve as a massive economic engine for the region, generating thousands of jobs and fostering industrial growth,” Babatunde said.
He added that the facility would function as a dedicated export gateway for manufactured goods and agricultural produce, boosting both the state’s internally generated revenue and the nation’s Gross Domestic Product.
Babatunde further disclosed that the state government’s focus on infrastructure development would transform the Moniya IDP into a world-class logistics hub capable of easing congestion at maritime ports and improving trade efficiency across West Africa.
The stakeholders’ meeting is expected to produce validated recommendations that will fast-track the next phase of the project, in line with the Federal Government’s broader blue economy agenda and inland port expansion strategy.
