Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, OFR, has expressed strong concern over the prolonged delay in the operationalisation of the Isiala Ngwa Inland Dry Port (IDP), nearly two decades after it was first conceived.
Speaking on Wednesday during a courtesy visit by officials of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Governor Otti described the delay as a significant economic loss to both Abia State and the nation. He called for urgent intervention by the Federal Government to address the infrastructural bottlenecks stalling the project.
“Isiala Ngwa IDP was strategically located right from the outset. But for it to remain non-functional 19 years after it was gazetted means something is fundamentally wrong,” the Governor said. “The major setback is transportation. Until we address the lack of rail connectivity, the inland dry port model will remain economically unviable.”
Governor Otti emphasized that rail remains the most cost-effective means of transporting goods from the seaports to inland ports. He praised ongoing federal rail projects, particularly the Port Harcourt–Maiduguri line, and pledged to collaborate with relevant authorities to fast-track the port’s activation.
“I’m ready to work with the Honourable Minister of Transport and other stakeholders to resolve these issues, even if it means going to Abuja to push for it personally,” he added.
The Governor maintained that activating the dry port would significantly boost regional trade, support local manufacturers in Aba, and create thousands of jobs, especially in logistics and allied industries.
Earlier in his remarks, the Executive Secretary and CEO of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Dr. Akutah Pius Ukeyima (MON), praised Governor Otti’s commitment to economic development and described Abia as a state well-positioned to thrive under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
He called for renewed support from the State Government to revive and operationalise the Isiala Ngwa Inland Dry Port, which was gazetted in 2006 and concessioned to
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