NPA to Audit Inland Dry Ports, Partners With ICNL to Boost Hinterland Trade

By Olabisi Akinpelu, Correspondent

The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has announced plans to commence a comprehensive assessment of all inland dry ports across the country to evaluate their prospects and the challenges they face..

This was disclosed by the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, when he met with executives of Intermodal Coordination and Logistics Limited (ICNL), led by Managing Director/CEO Mr. Omotayo Dada, at the authority’s headquarters in Lagos.

Dantsoho said the authority is set for a nationwide tour to assess all inland dry ports’ readiness and capacity

This evaluation, the Authority said, will serve as a foundational step to identify infrastructure gaps, enforce operational standards, and establish seamless connectivity between maritime hubs and interior commerce centers.

The meeting aimed to improve operational synergy, resolve hinterland trade barriers, align with national trade facilitation goals, and optimize cargo moving from seaports to inland dry ports.

Dantsoho stressed the importance of upgrading Inland Dry Port infrastructure to support modernised seaports. Additionally, he called for public-private partnerships to boost facilities, streamline logistics, and make doing business easier.

He highlighted that the NPA is nearly 90 per cent automated, urging the ICNL to integrate with the Eto system, Port Community Systems, and the National Single Window to enable real-time tracking, minimize bottlenecks, and enhance transparency.

Meanwhile, Dada reaffirmed the partnership as a vital backbone of Nigeria’s multimodal logistics chain connecting coastal ports to northern hubs. He emphasized the strategic importance of the Kaduna Inland Dry Port for northern shippers and landlocked nations like Niger and Chad.
Ultimately, both parties committed to leveraging technology, expanding intermodal rail evacuation, and strengthening dry port facilities.

These initiatives align directly with the Federal Ministry of Marine & Blue Economy’s mandate to boost port efficiency, reduce congestion, and drive economic growth.