Govt committed to use of Ibadan inland dry port, says Amaechi

The President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration has reiterated its commitment to the speedy execution of the Ibadan Inland Dry Port (IDP) project and establishment of an industrial park around the IDP site to create wealth and provide massive employment for youths.

Minister of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, disclosed this at the weekend when he and other top government officials visited the IDP site on an inspection tour of the project at Olorisa-Oko, Ibadan.

The minister, who was received by the deputy governor of Oyo State, Chief Moses Adeyemo, the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Ishmael Olalekan Ali, and other top government officials, gave kudos to the Governor Abiola Ajimobi led-administration, for allocating 90 hectares of land for the development of the Ibadan Inland Dry Port (IDP) project and establishment of an industrial park around the port site to create wealth, generate massive employment and boost the economy.

Amaechi, who was accompanied by the Ghana Minister of Railway Development, Mr Joe Ghartey, and the Executive Secretary, Nigerian Shippers Council, Mr Hassan Bello, expressed satisfaction with the size of land allocated for the project by the Oyo State government and assured the promoters of the project and other stakeholders that the federal government will follow all the laid down rules and procedures.

Addressing reporters after an inspection visit to the site, Amaechi said the project, when completed, will engender growth in the economy of the Southwest region and the nation in general.

The IDP, he said, is located at the end of the ongoing Lagos-Ibadan standard gauge railway line to enhance the nation’s cargo handling and processing capacity and provide additional means of integrating surface transportation of containers in the Southwest zone of the country

The minister said the project is an initiative of the federal government aimed at diversifying the economy and making international trade more attractive and competitive.

The dry port project, Amaechi said, was conceived as part of solutions to the problem of gridlock in Lagos ports and frequent congestion at the sea ports.

The federal and Oyo State governments, the minister said, will provide all the necessary infrastructure and facilities at the dry port to meet international standard.

In his remarks, the NSC Secretary, Bello, said the importance of Ibadan as the former capital of the defunct Western Region, a centre of commerce and industry drawing huge agricultural trade in local and export volumes and a transportation/logistics hub all combine to make the state a suitable choice for this viable inland dry port.

The inland dry port, he added, has the potential benefits of not only reducing transport cost and bringing shipping to the door steps of the shippers, but to also generate employment opportunities in the region of for about two million people and boosting the local and national economy.

The deputy governor said the state government and the people were happy that the federal government initiated the project and tasked the minister to continue to show the necessary commitment to bring the project to fruition after they must have vacated office.