Shippers’ council seeks Abia’s support to revive Isiala Ngwa dry port

The Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) has urged the Abia government to support the revival of the long-abandoned Isiala Ngwa inland dry port (IDP) to boost trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement.

Akutah Ukeyima, executive secretary of the council, made the appeal on Wednesday during a visit to Alex Otti, governor of Abia, in Nvosi, Isiala Ngwa south local government area of the state.

Ukeyima said the project, which was gazetted in 2006 and concessioned to Eastgate Container Terminal, has stalled at 10 percent completion due to infrastructure and funding challenges.

He said reviving the facility could unlock Abia’s potential as a regional trade hub, provide market access for Aba-based small businesses, generate thousands of jobs in logistics and warehousing, and significantly raise the state’s internally generated revenue.

Ukeyima said the project aligns with the AfCFTA’s vision of a single African market, offering opportunities for local producers to access over 1.4 billion consumers and a $3.4 trillion gross domestic product (GDP) bloc.

He noted that the IDP could serve as a logistics hub for regional trade and transit goods to landlocked nations like Chad and Niger, thereby boosting Nigeria’s non-oil exports and trade balance.

“Operationalising the port would promote exports of agro-products, leather, textiles, and manufactured goods from Aba and across the Southeast,” Ukeyima said.

The secretary also said the project has the potential to attract investments in freight forwarding, storage facilities, agro-processing, and bonded warehousing, while driving inclusive economic growth and creating jobs across Abia.

He urged the state government to support the project by providing necessary infrastructure, engaging stakeholders to fulfil commitments, and setting up a state-level implementation committee.

Ukeyima also reiterated the council’s commitment to providing full regulatory and technical support to ensure the project’s success in partnership with the Abia government and private sector players.

OTTI URGES FG TO FIX TRANSPORT CHALLENGES

In his response, Otti called on the federal government to address the critical infrastructure deficits that have stalled the Isiala Ngwa port.

He described the lengthy delay as a significant economic loss and evidence of deep-rooted issues in the project’s implementation.

“Isiala Ngwa IDP was well-positioned from the start, but for it to remain on the drawing board for 19 years means something is seriously wrong,” he said.

The governor highlighted the absence of dependable rail infrastructure as a key challenge, stressing that the efficient transfer of goods from seaports to inland dry ports largely relies on cost-effective rail networks.

Otti acknowledged the government’s rail investments, including the Port Harcourt–Maiduguri line, but noted that there have been concerns in some quarters over Abia being assigned a narrow-gauge track, unlike other regions that received the more desirable standard gauge.

The governor expressed his willingness to work with federal authorities to explore practical solutions that would accelerate the start of the project.

“I’m willing to be part of the solution and I want the port to start immediately, but we must ensure that once built, it attracts usage and doesn’t waste resources,” he added.

Otti warned that without immediate action, another 10 years could go by without any progress, and the dry port’s original concession might lapse without the facility ever becoming operational.

He called on stakeholders to focus first on resolving transportation challenges and emphasised the importance of being honest about the project’s viability if it turns out to be unfeasible.