Citypost Editorial
The persistent call for the establishment of a functional seaport in the South East is not a regional agitation but a fundamental question of economic justice and national development.
The recent statement by the Igbo Community Association (ICA) in Abuja is yet another reminder that despite being one of Nigeria’s most commercially vibrant regions, the South East remains without a single operational seaport. This glaring infrastructural exclusion is both unjustifiable and economically counterproductive.
For decades, South East traders and industrialists have been compelled to rely on the overstretched Lagos ports, enduring chaotic congestion, exploitative levies, and logistical nightmares that inflate the cost of doing business.
The region, known for its vast commercial hubs in Onitsha, Aba, and Nnewi, contributes significantly to Nigeria’s non-oil trade. Yet, despite its role in driving economic activities, it has been denied a basic infrastructure that could further unlock its full potential.
The ICA’s call to Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, to push for the establishment of a South East seaport is both timely and strategic.
Hon. Kalu’s remarkable leadership in securing the South East Development Commission (SEDC) has demonstrated his ability to navigate complex legislative terrains. However, history will remember him more profoundly if he can spearhead the actualization of a seaport for the region; a project that would redefine the economic landscape of not only the South East but Nigeria as a whole.
Nigeria currently has six recognized seaports, yet only two, both in Lagos are fully operational. This lopsided maritime distribution forces South East importers to endure excessive logistics costs, multiple taxation, and outright extortion along the Lagos-Onitsha trade corridor. The federal government’s failure to address this imbalance is not a matter of oversight; it is a deliberate economic stranglehold that must be broken.
There is no shortage of viable locations for a South East seaport. The Obeaku Ndoki Port in Abia State and the Oseakwa Seaport in Anambra State stand out as strategic options. Oseakwa, located in Ihiala Local Government Area, was once an active maritime hub during the colonial era and remains a prime location for international trade, given its proximity to the Atlantic Ocean. The revival of this port would not only decongest Lagos but also stimulate industrialization and foreign investment across the region.
Opponents of a South East seaport have often argued that the project would be unviable. Such claims are baseless. The massive commercial activities in the region debunk any notion of low patronage. If the federal government is truly committed to national economic growth, then establishing a seaport in the South East should be a priority, not an afterthought.
Continued neglect of this issue will only reinforce the perception that the South East is deliberately marginalized in Nigeria’s economic framework. The grievances of exclusion and systemic economic sabotage are real, and the federal government must act to reverse this unfair status quo. Development cannot be selective. A functional South East seaport is not just a regional demand; it is a national necessity that will benefit the entire country by creating jobs, enhancing trade efficiency, and boosting Nigeria’s global competitiveness.
Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu and other South East lawmakers must now rise to this challenge. They have the opportunity to etch their names in history by ensuring that this long-overdue infrastructure becomes a reality. The Igbo Community in Abuja has sounded the alarm, and the nation must listen. The South East has waited long enough. The time for action is now.
