No Deep Seaport In South-East Despite Approvals Elsewhere – Group Alleges Marginalisation

KINGSLEY EBERE 

The Igbonine Great People’s Assembly Worldwide has expressed concern over the approval and development of deep seaports in various parts of Nigeria without any approved for the South-East geopolitical zone.

The group made its position known in a press statement issued by its National Executive Council under the leadership of its National President, Dr Ugochukwu Nnajiofor.

In the statement, the assembly described the development as disappointing and an issue of economic injustice, alleging continued exclusion of the South-East from critical national maritime infrastructure.

According to the group, the South-East remains a major commercial hub with massive import and export activities, contributing significantly to Nigeria’s economy and therefore deserving equitable infrastructure development.

It argued that the absence of a deep seaport in the zone hinders trade, increases the cost of doing business and stifles industrial growth in the region.

The statement read in part: “The Southeast, being a major commercial hub with massive import and export activities, contributes significantly to Nigeria’s economy and deserves equitable infrastructure development.”

It added: “The absence of a deep seaport in the Southeast is not only an economic injustice but a deliberate marginalization that hinders trade, increases cost of doing business, and stifles industrial growth in Igbo land.”

The Igbonine Great People’s Assembly Worldwide called on the Federal Government, the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, and the Nigerian Ports Authority to urgently address what it described as an imbalance by approving and developing a deep seaport in the South-East.

The group maintained that equity, fairness and the principle of federal character must be respected in the distribution of national infrastructure.

It stated: “Ndigbo cannot continue to be excluded from critical national maritime infrastructure. Equity, fairness and federal character must be respected.”

The statement was concluded with the slogans: “Southeast Deserves A Deep Seaport! End Marginalization Now! Equal Development For All Zones!”

Observers note that Nigeria has in recent years approved and developed several deep seaport projects in different coastal zones as part of efforts to decongest existing ports, boost trade and attract investment.

They include the Lekki Deep Seaport in Lagos State, which has commenced operations, as well as proposed and ongoing projects in other coastal states.

Stakeholders in the maritime sector say deep seaports are critical to handling large vessels, reducing turnaround time and lowering logistics costs.

Business operators in the South-East have long complained about the high cost of transporting goods from ports in Lagos and other parts of the country to the region, a situation they say affects prices of goods and competitiveness of local industries.

Some traders and importers say they spend heavily on road haulage and face delays due to road conditions and congestion, which they argue could be reduced if the region had direct maritime access.

The group’s statement adds to longstanding calls by political leaders, business groups and socio-cultural organisations from the zone for greater federal presence in terms of infrastructure.

As of the time of filing this report, the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy and the Nigerian Ports Authority were yet to respond to the claims raised in the statement.

Efforts to get their reactions were unsuccessful.

The Igbonine Great People’s Assembly Worldwide said it would continue to advocate for what it described as equal development for all zones in the country.