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Repositioning Jos Inland Dry Port Key to Plateau’s Industrialization, Experts Say

October 2, 2025

Stakeholders have called for the repositioning of the Jos Inland Dry Port (IDP) in Plateau State, describing it as a strategic project that can transform the state into an industrial hub if backed by clear policies and infrastructure investment.

The IDP, located on 34 hectares at Heipang in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area, was first conceived in 2006 and sits adjacent to Yakubu Gowon Airport, close to the eastern rail line linking Port Harcourt to Maiduguri. Despite its potential, observers say successive administrations have failed to provide a clear roadmap for its operation.

“Inland dry ports are designed to decentralize maritime activities, decongest seaports, and bring shipping services closer to the hinterland. Jos, by its central location and resource endowment, is uniquely positioned to serve as a logistics hub for the North-Central, North-East, and North-West,” maritime analyst Nenfort Clifford Gonchen noted.

The Federal Government’s Marine and Blue Economy Policy already identifies Inland Dry Ports as critical to improving supply chain efficiency, boosting trade, and creating jobs through multimodal transport systems. According to the policy, dry ports are expected to reduce congestion at seaports, lower transport costs, and foster regional economic growth.

Analysts say Plateau’s abundance of agricultural produce—such as potatoes, maize, and vegetables—as well as solid minerals like tin and columbite, makes the state ripe for resource-based industrialization. “If agro-processing hubs and mineral beneficiation plants are sited near the dry port, it will attract light manufacturing and generate thousands of jobs,” Gonchen added.

However, critics argue that weak engagement between the Plateau State Government and the Nigerian Shippers’ Council has stalled the port’s development. The facility was purchased from its concessionaire in 2022 under the Simon Lalong administration, but no definite operational plan has been announced.

To unlock its potential, experts are recommending:

  • Infrastructure upgrades to link the IDP with seaports via modern rail and road networks.
  • Policy reforms including tax incentives and digitalized customs processes.
  • Sectoral integration through agro-processing and industrial clusters.
  • Human capital development with

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