Kaduna Dry Port wins ‘Best in Africa’ award, deepens Nigeria’s inland trade network
Maureen Aguta
The Kaduna Inland Dry Port (KIDP) has been named the Best Dry Port in Africa by the Maritime Correspondents’ Organisation of Nigeria (MARCON), in recognition of its contribution to inland port operations, cargo logistics and trade facilitation.
The award was presented to the facility, operated by Inland Containers Nigeria Limited (ICNL), during the MARCON National Conference on Sustainable Fishing held on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, at Rockview Hotel, Apapa, Lagos.
Presenting the award, MARCON President, Ismail Aniemu, said KIDP emerged from a comparative assessment of 10 dry ports and inland cargo facilities across Africa, based on their impact on trade connectivity, cargo movement and access to port services.
According to Aniemu, the study showed that KIDP had made a significant impact by bringing port services closer to businesses and cargo owners in northern Nigeria and strengthening the connection between the region and the country’s maritime gateways.
He said the facilities assessed included City Deep in Gauteng, South Africa; TCT in Tema, Ghana; Mombasa Container Terminal–ICD in Kenya; TRCB Bobo Dioulasso in Burkina Faso; Kagbelen near Conakry, Guinea; APM Terminals Bamako in Mali; Bangui Terminal in the Central African Republic; Modjo Dry Port in Ethiopia; and the Port of Nouakchott in Mauritania.
Aniemu said the assessment also highlighted KIDP’s operational resilience in sustaining cargo connectivity with ports in Lagos, Rivers State and other parts of Nigeria, despite the absence of seamless rail connectivity between the seaports and Kaduna.
He described the facility’s contribution to import and export trade, agriculture and industrial development as consistent with Nigeria’s efforts to diversify the economy and promote sustainable growth.
Commissioned in January 2018, KIDP was established to operate as a port of origin for exports and a port of destination for imports, bringing key port functions closer to cargo owners and businesses in the hinterland.
The facility provides cargo handling, warehousing, consolidation, haulage and other shipping and logistics services, helping to integrate inland markets with Nigeria’s maritime gateways.
The award, MARCON said, underscores the growing importance of dry ports in expanding access to port services, improving cargo evacuation and strengthening the country’s inland logistics chain.
Receiving the award, Managing Director of ICNL, Omotayo Philip Dada, said the company remained committed to operational excellence, customer satisfaction and regulatory compliance.
Dada said although KIDP was a Nigerian facility, its operations would continue to be guided by global best practices.
He added that ICNL would continue to support Nigeria’s ambition of strengthening its position as a leading maritime nation in Africa through efficient inland cargo logistics.
The recognition formed part of the 2026 MARCON awards, which honour individuals and organisations for notable contributions to Nigeria’s maritime industry and related sectors.
The conference, themed “Sustainable Fishing in Nigeria: Pathways to Growth, Food Security and Coastal Livelihoods,” attracted policymakers, regulators, maritime operators, researchers, training institutions and other stakeholders to deliberate on the sustainable development of Nigeria’s fisheries and wider blue economy.