Former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi has criticized the Federal Government’s recent approval of $1 billion (approximately ₦1.5 trillion) for the modernisation of the Apapa and TinCan Island Ports in Lagos, calling it a misplaced priority that neglects the urgent need for national port decentralisation.
In a statement released on Friday titled “The Imperative of Diversifying Port Development in Nigeria,” Obi argued that the continued concentration of port infrastructure and investment in Lagos is economically detrimental to the nation.
“While any effort to improve efficiency and embrace technology in our maritime sector is commendable, such an initiative must be guided by accountability, transparency, and equity for all Nigerians,” Obi stated. “However, this development once again exposes a longstanding concentration of our port development only in Lagos.”
The former Anambra State governor highlighted that Nigeria’s infrastructure investment remains “excessively concentrated in Lagos, often at the expense of other strategic ports such as Warri, Port Harcourt, Calabar, and Onne.” He asserted that fully developing these alternative ports would enhance productivity, drive trade, create jobs, and open new economic corridors to lift millions out of poverty.
To bolster his argument, Obi pointed to successful models in other nations, including Vietnam with over 300 ports, Indonesia with 111 commercial ports, and South Africa with eight major seaports strategically located on different coastlines. He also cited examples from Egypt, Morocco, Algeria, and Ghana, noting that these countries have “grasped a simple truth: no country seeking to maximise its blue economy concentrates all maritime activities in a single city.”
Obi outlined the consequences of Nigeria’s current approach, stating that with over 70% of port activities confined to Lagos, the nation suffers from “chronic congestion, high demurrage costs, environmental degradation, and delays that discourage investors and inflate the cost of goods nationwide.”
He positioned the development of other ports as a “national imperative,” essential for decongesting Lagos, reducing shipping costs, and stimulating regional economies.
The statement concluded with a call for a broader national vision, urging the government to “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.”
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