NPA To Assess Dala, Funtua Dry Ports For Rail, Other Needs

The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) will visit the Dala and Funtua inland dry ports to assess their operational conditions, infrastructure deficits, and rail connectivity requirements.

The managing director of the NPA, Dr Abubakar Dantsoho, gave the assurance during a meeting with the executive director of Dala Inland Dry Port, Ahmad Rabiu, and representatives of Funtua Inland Dry Port at the authority’s headquarters in Marina, Lagos.

The planned assessment is part of the NPA’s efforts to integrate inland dry ports into the national port system, following the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr Adegboyega Oyetola, transferring operational oversight of the facilities to the authority.

Dantsoho said the dry ports must be upgraded to match the modernisation underway at Nigeria’s seaports, particularly as digital platforms such as the Port Community System and the National Single Window are deployed.

“For our Inland Dry Ports to function at the same velocity as the ongoing modernisation across our seaports, we must proactively upgrade dry port infrastructure and technical capacity,” he said.

He said the facilities would need modern equipment and stronger technical capacity to handle increasing cargo volumes and larger vessels calling at Nigerian ports.

The NPA chief also called for greater private-sector investment in inland logistics infrastructure, citing APM Terminals’ establishment of an Export Processing Terminal in Northern Nigeria as an example.

Speaking on behalf of the delegation, Hassan Bello welcomed the transfer of oversight to the NPA and described the transition as seamless. He, however, drew attention to inadequate rail connectivity and wider logistics constraints confronting the facilities.

Rail access is critical to inland dry-port operations because it can link seaports with hinterland locations, ease pressure on roads and reduce logistics costs. Dala, in particular, was designed as a multimodal facility with rail access.

The meeting agreed on a framework for technical consultations, infrastructure integration and physical planning. The NPA said the visits to Dala and Funtua would help determine priority interventions to strengthen cargo distribution, trade facilitation and the wider maritime logistics network.