For Northern importers in Kano, Kaduna and Jos, the question is no longer whether dry ports will work, but which one is actually working in 2026 to reduce the Lagos gridlock tax.
Nigeria has three major Northern inland dry ports: Kaduna Inland Dry Port, Dala Inland Dry Port Kano, and Jos Heipang Inland Dry Port. All were designed to take shipping services closer to the hinterland, reduce congestion at Apapa and Tin Can, and facilitate cross-border trade to Niger, Chad and Cameroon.
Nigeria Anchorage compares them based on Nigerian Shippers’ Council, NPA and Federal Government data as of September 2026.
1. Kaduna Inland Dry Port — The Pioneer and Most Operational
Location: Kaduna State, Northwest Nigeria
Capacity: 5,029 TEUs, expandable
Status: Fully Operational since January 2017
Commissioned by: FG as first dry port of origin
Operator: Inland Container Nigeria Ltd (ICNL) and NPA
Rail Link: Fully connected to Lagos-Kano Standard Gauge — Containers move from Apapa to Kaduna in 48 hours when rail works
Key Trade: Importers from Abuja, Kaduna, Kano, Jos can clear containers in Kaduna, cutting 7 days of Apapa delay. Handles ginger, sesame, soybeans exports.
Kaduna is the most reliable today. For Abuja importers (your base in FCT), Kaduna is just 2 hours away. It is already a Port of Origin and Destination. The FG order of September 2026 that NPA should takeover all inland dry ports was first tested in Kaduna.
Winner: Reliability and speed for Abuja and Kaduna importers.
2. Dala Inland Dry Port Kano — The Biggest and Future Gateway*
Location: Zawachiki, Kumbotso LGA, Kano — 20 hectares
Capacity: 20,000 TEUs — 4 times Kaduna
Status: Fully Operational, Commissioned August 2022 by President Buhari, Started receiving export containers July 2024
Operator: Dala Inland Dry Port Nigeria Ltd, with Kano State Government (N2.3bn investment for AfCFTA)
Rail Link: Kano hub of Lagos-Kano rail — When fully operational, will link directly to Apapa, Tin Can and Lekki Deep Seaport
Key Trade: Consumer goods, electronics, textiles from China via Lagos, and agro exports — sesame, hibiscus, groundnut from Jigawa, Kano, Katsina to global markets. Targets Niger Republic (Maradi, Niamey), Chad, Burkina Faso.
Dala is the largest Northern dry port and officially designated as Northern Nigeria Trade Gateway. Nigeria Anchorage reported yesterday how Dala plus Lagos-Kano rail could make Kano a distribution, manufacturing and export hub for the Sahel. It is 565% bigger than Lekki's initial yard, and built to handle Very Large volumes.
If railway moves containers reliably from coast to Kano, Dala will dominate. Manufacturers in Kano, Kaduna, Katsina could obtain raw materials 40% cheaper than trucking from Lagos. Exporters could reach Lagos in 3 days vs 14 days road.
Winner: Size, capacity, cross-border trade potential, AfCFTA positioning.
3. Jos Heipang Inland Dry Port — The Newest for Solid Minerals*
Location: Heipang, Plateau State — North-Central
Capacity: 20,000 TEUs
Status: Operational — Commissioned 2023/2024, Shippers’ Council says it will boost North-Central revenue
Operator: Plateau Investment & Property Development Company, supported by Plateau State Government
Rail Link: Connected via road and planned rail link to Lagos-Kaduna-Kano corridor
Key Trade: Solid minerals — Tin, Columbite, Lead from Jos, Bauchi, Nasarawa; Agricultural produce — Irish Potatoes, Tomatoes, Vegetables from Plateau; Exports to Cameroon via Mambilla corridor.
Jos serves North-Central and Northeast — Plateau, Bauchi, Gombe, Nasarawa, Taraba, Benue. For importers at Terminus Market Jos that Nigeria Anchorage interviewed on September 22, Jos Heipang saves 1,200km road from Lagos. Instead of paying N1.8m to move container from Apapa to Jos (up from N1.2m due to Apapa gridlock at Ijora and Mile 2), they can clear at Heipang.
Shippers’ Council says Jos will boost revenue because Plateau produces solid minerals needing export.
Winner: Best for Plateau minerals, agro produce, and North-Central importers avoiding Lagos road.
So, Which is Working in September 2026?
For Abuja importers: Use Kaduna — Closest, most stable, 2hrs from Abuja.
For Kano/Katsina/Jigawa and Niger/Chad transit: Use Dala — Biggest, 20,000 TEUs, AfCFTA-ready, NPA takeover now.
For Jos/Plateau/Bauchi and Cameroon trade: Use Jos Heipang — Saves 1,200km, best for tin and potato exports.
All three reduce Apapa gridlock that Nigeria Anchorage reported — trucks blocked at Ijora, Costain and Mile 2 without Eto tickets, causing 6-hour access delay for a 20-minute journey. All three benefit from FG's new order: FG Orders NPA Takeover of Inland Dry Ports — to designate them as Ports of Origin and Destination.
Bottom line: Kaduna works today, Dala will dominate tomorrow if rail works, Jos is best for Plateau minerals and Cameroon trade. Northern importers should choose based on location and cargo type. Combined with Lagos-Kano rail and Lekki Deep Seaport vs Ibom Deep Seaport choice, Northern Nigeria now has real options beyond Apapa.https://nigeriaanchorage.blogspot.com/2026/09/how-apapa-gridlock-cripples-cargo.htm.
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