Peter Obi, former governor and presidential candidate, has known as on the Federal Authorities to diversify port improvement past Lagos, following the approval of $1 billion (approx. N1.5 trillion) for the modernisation of the Apapa and TinCan Island Ports.
Obi made the decision through a press release on his official X account on Friday, stressing the necessity for equitable infrastructure funding throughout Nigeria’s maritime sector.
Whereas acknowledging that modernising Lagos ports is commendable, Obi warned that the nation’s heavy focus of port actions in Lagos creates power congestion, excessive demurrage prices, and environmental pressures that undermine commerce effectivity.
He argued that different strategic ports, together with Warri, Port Harcourt, Calabar, and Onne, stay underdeveloped, regardless of their potential to stimulate regional economies, create jobs, and cut back strain on Lagos.
“I’ve famous the Federal Authorities’s latest approval of $1 billion (N1.5 trillion) for the modernisation of the Apapa and TinCan Island Ports in Lagos. Whereas any effort to enhance effectivity and embrace expertise in our maritime sector is commendable, such an initiative have to be guided by accountability, transparency, and fairness for all Nigerians. Nevertheless, this improvement as soon as once more exposes a longstanding focus of our port improvement solely in Lagos.
“Nigeria’s infrastructure funding stays excessively concentrated in Lagos, usually on the expense of different strategic ports comparable to Warri, Port Harcourt, Calabar, and Onne. If totally developed, these ports might improve productiveness, drive commerce, create jobs, and open new {economic} corridors that might raise tens of millions out of poverty throughout the federation,” the assertion learn partially.
Obi highlighted world examples of decentralised port programs, citing Vietnam’s 300 ports, Indonesia’s 111 business ports, and South Africa’s eight main seaports, noting that these nations profit from nationwide connectivity, improved logistics, and balanced {economic} development. Even Ghana, with solely two main ports, ensures they’re geographically unfold to maximise effectivity.
He additionally known as for equity and fairness in Nigeria’s infrastructure planning, arguing {that a} actually nationwide blue financial system should contain each area and shift the nation from one pushed by consumption to at least one targeted on manufacturing and shared prosperity.
The Apapa and TinCan Island ports, two of Nigeria’s busiest seaports, not too long ago acquired Federal Authorities approval of $1 billion for modernisation.
In response to Marine and Blue Economic system Minister Adegboyega Oyetola, the upgrades aimed to enhance cargo dealing with, broaden capability to fulfill world requirements, and introduce a paperless, technology-driven port system to reinforce effectivity, cut back turnaround time, and curb corruption.
Nevertheless, it has not been explicitly said whether or not the latest $1 billion federal approval for Apapa and TinCan Island port modernisation is linked to this earlier $700 million mortgage.
