Headlines

Optimizing inland waterways and dry ports for national food security

Monday Discourse with Ibrahim Nasiru

Let’s be completely honest about why food prices are killing us in Nigeria right now. Everyone is yelling about poor farm yields, expensive fertilizer, and bad weather.

But there is a massive, quiet killer that nobody seems to want to talk about: the absolute nightmare of moving food from point A to point B.

Right now, we push over 80 percent of our freight onto broken roads. Think about a truck driver hauling tomatoes from a farm up North down to Mile 12 market in Lagos.

Between the collapsing asphalt, the endless security checkpoints, and the agbero extortion, those trucks sit for days in the heat. Half the food rots before it even hits a consumer’s plate.

That rot is basically a hidden tax that makes every single plate of food in this country more expensive. If we want to fix hunger, we have to look past our ocean coastlines and fix the logistics channels right inside our own backyard.

True food security is going to live or die by how we use our inland waterways and dry Ports.

Moving things by water is just common sense because it is drastically cheaper than burning diesel on a highway.

The Niger and Benue rivers are sitting right there—natural blue highways connecting rural farming communities straight to major commercial hubs.

If we can move bulk grains, yams, and livestock on barges instead of trailers, we instantly slash the cost of logistics.

When transport costs drop, market prices drop, simple. Plus, if we actually invest in river Ports with proper cold-storage docks, we can finally stop losing 40 percent of our harvests to post-harvest rot.

Then you look at our Inland Dry Ports in places like Kaduna, Funtua, Jos, and Kano. Right now, people only think of them as places for handling customs paperwork and international shipping containers.

That is a massive waste of potential. These dry Ports need to become major, decentralized food hubs.

Imagine a dry Port equipped with massive grain silos, modern food processing plants, and direct rail links. Instead of a desperate farmer selling their harvest for pennies to a predatory middleman because they are scared the food will spoil, the dry Port gives them a place to store, grade, and ship their produce safely based on real demand.

But let’s talk about the elephant in the room: money and politics.

The Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy is operating on tight budget realities, making it incredibly hard to fund these critical infrastructure and safety upgrades quickly.

On top of that, bureaucratic source-deductions by the Accountant-General keep choking the cash flow of the very maritime agencies trying to do the work.

The federal government cannot finance this alone. We desperately need real Public-Private Partnerships.

We need to give private investors a reason to build the specialized agricultural docks, cold-storage warehouses, and barges we actually need.

At the same time, we have to stop the madness of regulatory turf wars. Right now, agencies like NIWA and the Shippers’ Council are tripping over each other, creating multiple transport levies that do nothing but inflate the final cost of food.

You cannot solve a food crisis on the farm alone. Food security is entirely dependent on transport efficiency. It is time for the government to stop treating agriculture and maritime as two separate worlds.

If we clear the channel and get our waterways and dry Ports working for our food supply, we can finally feed this nation.

Chief Ibrahim Nasiru, a public affairs Analyst, writes from Abuja

Analyses

Dual clearing:The secret racket killing Single Window

The portals are digital, but the greed remains completely manual.

The Monday Discourse with Nasiru Ibrahim exposes the ‘Dual Clearing’ racket where manual verification loops completely neutralize the federal government’s National Single Window.

Read how deliberate extortion rings at the terminal gates are killing the ease of doing business and paralyzing Port efficiency.

The full strategic brief drops tomorrow morning!

Stay tuned

Headlines

Oyebamiji charges Christians to elect credible leaders, seeks good governance

Funso Olojo, Osogbo

The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State, Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji, has urged Christians to play an active role in shaping good governance by electing leaders of integrity, competence and proven capacity to serve, rather than voting on the basis of sentiment.

Oyebamiji made the appeal on Sunday, August 2nd,2026 during a worship service at the Redeem Breakthrough Cathedral, Region 43 Headquarters of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Osogbo, where he also sought prayers for peaceful and credible governorship elections in the state.

The APC standard-bearer commended the General Overseer of the RCCG, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye, for his steadfast spiritual leadership and unwavering commitment to biblical teachings, describing his ministry as one that has transformed countless lives in Nigeria and across the world.

He also praised the Regional Pastor, Pastor Matthew Oluyinka, for his dedication to the growth of the church and his service to the Christian community in Osogbo.

Expressing appreciation for the warm reception accorded him, Oyebamiji thanked God for His faithfulness over his life, family, Osun State and Nigeria.

Drawing from Proverbs 14:34, which says, “Righteousness exalts a nation,” he stressed that the Church has a crucial role in promoting good governance through prayers, civic engagement and the encouragement of responsible leadership.

“The responsibility of citizens does not end on election day. People must continue to demand accountability from elected leaders and ensure that public resources are deployed for the common good,” he said.

Referencing biblical figures such as Joseph, Daniel and King David, Oyebamiji noted that enduring leadership is founded on wisdom, integrity, justice and selfless service.

He assured the congregation that, if elected governor, his administration would be anchored on fairness, equity, justice and respect for all residents, irrespective of political, religious or ethnic affiliations.

“I have come to worship with you today, and I sincerely appreciate the warm reception I have received. If entrusted with the responsibility of governing Osun State, I will lead with fairness, equity and respect for all. I also humbly solicit your prayers for peaceful elections in our state,” he said.

The church visit is part of Oyebamiji’s ongoing consultations with faith-based organisations and other critical stakeholders as he intensifies his campaign ahead of the forthcoming Osun State governorship election.

Asiwaju Bola Oyebamiji team also worshipped at the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC,), Ibudo Asegun Parish, Osunjela, Oshogbo

Economy

Oyebamiji, ex- NIWA boss, promises economic boom for Osun residents as he targets Dagbolu Dry Port, Free Trade Zone to boost investment, jobs,SMEs

Members of maritime journalists coalition in a group photograph with Asiwaju Bola Oyebamiji

Funso Olojo Editor

The All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate for Osun State, Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji, has pledged to revive key economic assets, including the Dagbolu Dry Port, Osun Free Trade Zone, Ido-Osun Airport, Osun-Osogbo Grove and Oba Hills National Park, as part of a comprehensive strategy to reposition the state as a leading investment, industrial and tourism destination.

Oyebamiji, a former Managing Director of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), made the pledge on Saturday, August 1st, 2026 while receiving members of the Coalition of Maritime Journalists of Nigeria during a courtesy visit to his campaign office in Osogbo.

The visit was facilitated by the Waterfront Boat Owners and Transporters Association of Nigeria (WABOTAN) in recognition of Oyebamiji’s contributions to the development of Nigeria’s inland waterways sector during his tenure at NIWA.

Addressing the journalists, the APC standard-bearer in the August 15th governorship election in Osun state,unveiled his Osun Prosperity Agenda, themed “A Pact for Growth, Inclusion and Lasting Development,” describing it as a practical blueprint for accelerating economic transformation, promoting inclusive governance and delivering sustainable development across the state.

He said unlocking the economic potential of strategic assets such as the Dagbolu Dry Port, Osun Free Trade Zone, Osun-Osogbo Grove, Oba Hills National Park and the Ido-Osun Airport would stimulate commerce, expand tourism, attract domestic and foreign investments, strengthen entrepreneurship and create sustainable employment opportunities for the people of Osun.

According to him, reviving the Dagbolu Dry Port and the Osun Free Trade Zone would improve trade facilitation, enhance logistics services and position Osun as a competitive industrial and export hub within Nigeria.

“We will resuscitate strategic economic assets that have the capacity to transform Osun’s economy, stimulate private sector investment and create wealth for our people,” Oyebamiji said.

On poverty reduction and workers’ welfare, the APC candidate promised targeted social intervention programmes for vulnerable citizens while ensuring prompt payment of salaries, improved working conditions and the restoration of dignity within the public service.

He also pledged to tackle unemployment through public works programmes, enterprise support initiatives and strategic investments capable of generating sustainable jobs, particularly for young people.

To attract more investments, Oyebamiji said his administration would strengthen the Osun State Investment Promotion Agency, develop industrial parks with modern infrastructure, improve the ease of doing business and position Osun among Nigeria’s most attractive investment destinations.

He further assured micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) of improved access to microcredit, grants and business development services, while expanding entrepreneurship and empowerment programmes for youths and women.

On education and healthcare, Oyebamiji promised to modernise educational infrastructure, recruit and train teachers, strengthen technical and vocational education, expand apprenticeship programmes and upgrade healthcare facilities across the state.

He added that strategic partnerships would be leveraged to advance universal health coverage and improve access to quality healthcare for all residents.

Reaffirming his commitment, Oyebamiji said the Prosperity Agenda represents a covenant with the people of Osun to deliver economic growth, social inclusion and lasting development through prudent leadership, strategic investments and private sector-driven development.

Speaking earlier, President of WABOTAN, Comrade Tope Fajemirokun, described Oyebamiji as a tested and result-oriented administrator whose achievements at NIWA demonstrated his capacity for effective governance.

Fajemirokun expressed confidence that, under Oyebamiji’s leadership, Osun State could emerge as a major player in Nigeria’s marine and blue economy by harnessing its tourism assets, including the Osun-Osogbo Grove and Erin-Ijesha Waterfalls, to drive maritime tourism, investment and economic growth.