The Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has called for the decentralisation of Nigeria’s seaports, warning that the continued concentration of maritime infrastructure in Lagos undermines equitable economic development.
Reacting to the Federal Government’s recent approval of ₦1.5 trillion ($1 billion) for the modernisation of the Apapa and Tin Can Island Ports in Lagos, Obi said in a statement on X (formerly Twitter), titled “The Imperative of Diversifying Port Development in Nigeria,” that the nation’s blue economy would be stronger and more productive if port development were evenly distributed across regions.
“While any effort to improve efficiency and embrace technology in our maritime sector is commendable, such initiatives must be guided by accountability, transparency, and equity for all Nigerians,” Obi stated. “Nigeria’s infrastructure investment remains excessively concentrated in Lagos, often at the expense of strategic ports such as Warri, Port Harcourt, Calabar, and Onne.”
The former Anambra State governor argued that fully developing these ports would boost productivity, create jobs, expand trade routes, and reduce poverty nationwide. He cited examples of countries like Vietnam, Indonesia, South Africa, Egypt, Morocco, Algeria, and Ghana, which have adopted decentralised port systems to drive inclusive economic growth and national connectivity.
Obi noted that more than 70 per cent of Nigeria’s port activities are concentrated in Lagos, leading to congestion, high logistics costs, and environmental challenges that discourage investors and inflate commodity prices. “Developing other ports is not just an infrastructural necessity but a national imperative,” he stressed.
He urged the government to revitalise other major ports, reduce corruption and bureaucracy, and embrace technology to establish a seamless, paperless port system that enhances efficiency and global competitiveness.
Obi further stated that if well-managed, the Lagos port modernisation could serve as a model for broader maritime reform. “Now more than ever, Nigeria must rebuild with fairness, guided by equity, integrity, and a clear vision to transform our nation from one of consumption to one of production and shared prosperity,” he said.
