Nigeria’s aspiration to become a major maritime and logistics hub in West Africa has taken a significant leap forward, following the official handover of a Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) for 90 hectares of land by the Oyo State Government to the Federal Government for the development of the Moniya Inland Dry Port.
The landmark event marks a major stride in the Federal Government’s effort to decentralize maritime trade operations and promote economic growth under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy (FMM&BE), Olufemi Oloruntola, received the documents on behalf of the Federal Government from Oyo State Deputy Governor, Barr. Abdul-Raheem Lawal, during an official ceremony in Ibadan.
According to a statement signed by Anastasia Ogbonna, Director of Information and Public Relations, FMM&BE, Oloruntola—who represented the Honourable Minister, Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola—hailed the gesture as a “clear demonstration of partnership and shared vision” between both tiers of government to expand trade opportunities through modern infrastructure.
He described the Moniya Inland Dry Port as a strategic national project that would bring shipping services closer to importers and exporters, thereby stimulating industrial and agricultural growth across the entire South-West region.
“This project will not only ease the movement of goods but also strengthen Nigeria’s position as a regional maritime hub,” Oloruntola said, reaffirming the ministry’s commitment to the project’s timely completion.
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), Dr. Pius Akutah, represented by the Director of Inland Transport Services, Ahmadu Garta, expressed appreciation to the Oyo State Government for its partnership and foresight. He noted that dry ports remain an integral component of modern trade facilitation, designed to decongest seaports and foster seamless cargo handling within inland locations.
In his remarks, Deputy Governor Lawal commended the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy and the NSC for their collaborative efforts in driving infrastructural development. He reaffirmed the state’s dedication to the success of the project but emphasized the importance of adhering to the agreed timeline.
“We are committed to seeing this project through,” Lawal said. “However, we urge the Ministry and the Council to ensure that this project is delivered on schedule for the maximum benefit of the people of Oyo State and its environs.”
The event’s highlight was the formal presentation of the Certificate of Occupancy and a joint inspection of the proposed project site by officials of the Oyo State Government, the FMM&BE, and the NSC.
The 90-hectare land at Moniya is strategically located near the Obafemi Awolowo Train Station, a key stop along the Lagos-Ibadan standard gauge rail corridor that connects freight and passenger services from Apapa and Ebute Metta in Lagos to Moniya, Ibadan. This proximity, stakeholders noted, positions the site as a logistics powerhouse capable of transforming trade operations within Nigeria’s inland regions.
