The Ogun State government has approved and released 130 hectares of land along the Epe/Mojoda expressway in Ijebu Ode to the Federal Government for the development of the proposed Ijebu Ode Inland Dry Port.
The move follows a request by the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Mr. Gboyega Oyetola, in a letter dated June 26, 2025, addressed to Governor Dapo Abiodun.
According to industry analysts, the inland port is expected to boost national trade, stimulate economic growth, ease congestion at the Lagos ports, and enhance the competitiveness of Ogun’s industrial clusters.
The facility is also projected to serve as a major cargo consolidation and distribution hub for the South-West region, while reducing production costs for manufacturers and investors operating within the state.
The dry port, which will be connected by rail to the Lekki Deep Sea Port, is also planned to link the proposed Kajola and Moniya Dry Ports as well as the Gateway International Agro-Cargo Airport, creating a wider logistics network across the region.
Governor Abiodun, while affirming the state’s commitment to industrial growth, said:
“The Ijebu-Ode Inland Dry Port and the Gateway International Airport are critical enablers of industrialization and regional competitiveness. Together, they will transform Ogun State into a logistics and economic powerhouse, creating prosperity for our people and opportunities for Nigeria at large.”
With Kajola Inland Dry Port already positioned for the Ogun Central Industrial Cluster and now the Ijebu Ode facility for the Eastern corridor, the government said the move ensures balanced industrial development across the state’s three senatorial districts.
It will be recalled that in January this year, President Bola Tinubu approved the establishment of inland dry ports in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State, and Moniya, Oyo State, as part of efforts to decongest the Lagos seaports and strengthen the nation’s maritime economy.
Speaking during the 2025 budget defence in Abuja, Oyetola said the projects are designed for fast-tracked delivery, with consultancies already underway.
He assured that the ports, once completed, will generate employment opportunities for youths in Ogun, Oyo, and other states in the South-West.
“The notable deficiencies in the maritime sector such as infrastructure decay, silted river courses, inadequate fish production, and poor river crafts require urgent attention,” Oyetola added, while pledging the Ministry’s commitment to address these challenges through ongoing projects.
