NPA to inspect northern inland dry ports over logistics constraints

The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) said it plans to inspect two of Nigeria’s three functioning inland dry ports following concerns over inadequate rail connectivity and logistics constraints affecting cargo movement at the facilities.

Abubakar Dantsoho, managing director of the NPA, mentioned the planned visits during a meeting with operators of the two facilities at the authority’s headquarters in Lagos, following the transfer of operational oversight of all Inland Dry Ports (IDPs) to the Authority by the ministry of marine and blue economy.

Dala Inland Dry Port, located in Zawachiki, Dala Local Government Area in Kano State, and Funtua Inland Dry Port, Located in Zanfarawa, Funtua in Katsina State are two of the three functioning IDPs in Nigeria, with seven others still at various stages of development. They have a combined 30,000 TEU of designated capacity.

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Hassan Bello, who spoke on behalf of the delegation, quickly spotlighted logistics constraints like inadequate rail connectivity as barriers to meeting the potential of the IDPs.

Landlocked, the facilities’ rail links are important for moving cargo between seaports and inland destinations, potentially reducing reliance on roads and lowering logistics costs.

Dantsoho said inland dry ports must adopt modern equipment and technical systems to match digitalisation efforts at seaports.

“As we integrate digital systems such as the Port Community System (PCS) and the National Single Window in our seaports, the dry ports must deploy modern equipment and advanced technical capabilities to handle larger cargo volumes and bigger vessels coming to our coast,” he said.

He added that private sector investments like APM Terminals’ establishment of an Export Processing Terminal in northern Nigeria would be greatly valuable to consolidate upgrade plans.