The Isiala Ngwa Inland Dry Port could transform Abia into a trade hub. Discover how Gov. Alex Otti is driving its revival and why this project could change the state’s economic future.
… Abia Governor unveils strategic collaboration with Nigerian Shippers’ Council to break 19-year stagnation
By All Facts Newspaper – Aba | July 31, 2025
The long-awaited Isiala Ngwa Inland Dry Port (IDP), a project that could transform Abia into a major trade and logistics hub, is now closer to reality as Governor Alex Otti pledges strategic collaboration with the Nigerian Shippers’ Council to remove all barriers hindering its operationalization.
During a courtesy visit by Dr. Akutah Ukeyima, Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, to the Governor’s country home in Nvosi, Isiala Ngwa South LGA, Otti described the port as a sleeping economic giant with the potential to link Aba’s industrial clusters directly to global markets.
“Rail Connectivity is the Missing Link” — Otti
Governor Otti expressed deep concern that the project, gazetted in 2006 and concessioned for 30 years to Eastgate Container Terminal Limited, has remained stalled at only 10% completion for almost two decades, blaming the absence of reliable rail connectivity as the key factor stifling its viability.
“Until we solve the rail problem, the inland port system will remain unviable. The cheapest and most sustainable way to move goods from seaports to IDPs is by rail. Trucks are not sustainable for serious business,” Otti emphasized.
He further warned that without urgent execution, the concession could lapse in less than 10 years, turning the multi-billion naira project into a white elephant and a major economic loss.
Why the Inland Port Is a Game-Changer
According to the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, a fully operational Isiala Ngwa IDP will:
- Provide direct export access for Aba’s globally recognized small and medium-scale manufacturers,
- Create thousands of jobs in logistics, transport, and allied sectors,
- Boost Abia State’s internally generated revenue,
- Position Abia as a regional trade hub under AfCFTA.
Dr. Ukeyima commended Governor Otti’s visionary economic leadership, promising regulatory and technical support to fast-track the project.
“Abia is strategically positioned to drive regional trade. Once this port comes alive, it will change the economic narrative of the South-East,” he stated.
Governor Otti’s Call for Federal Intervention
The Governor also addressed ongoing federal rail projects, including the Port Harcourt-Maiduguri corridor, and the concern over the South-East being offered narrow-gauge lines instead of standard gauge enjoyed by other regions.
“We must move from the drawing table to the execution ground. If we discover it won’t work, let’s be honest with ourselves and fix the fundamentals,” he insisted.
With the state government, Shippers’ Council, and federal authorities now engaging in renewed talks, optimism is rising that the Isiala Ngwa Inland Dry Port will finally move from dream to reality, unlocking a new era of economic prosperity for Abia and Nigeria at large.
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