Establishing A Southeast Seaport Vital To Easing Lagos Congestion – Igbo Community Leader

Establishing A Southeast Seaport Vital To Easing Lagos Congestion – Igbo Community Leader

Abuja – The Federal Capital Territory chapter of the Igbo Community Association (ICA) has reiterated its appeal to the Federal Government to authorize the establishment of a seaport in Nigeria’s Southeast and to upgrade existing ports in the Niger Delta as a strategic solution to the persistent congestion at Lagos ports….READ MORE….

The association stressed that situating a seaport closer to the Southeast—an epicenter of international commerce—would significantly reduce logistical delays, lower operational costs for businesses, and enhance overall economic performance across the country.

In a statement signed by ICA FCT President General, Engr. Ikenna Ellis-Ezenekwe, the group cited the unsustainable population density in Lagos’ Apapa area—currently at 8,172 persons per square kilometer, compared to the national average of 261, the Southeast’s 1,800, and the South-South’s 253—as evidence of the need to decentralize port operations.

According to Ellis-Ezenekwe, the current over-reliance on Lagos seaports has become economically inefficient and disproportionately skewed, suggesting that equitable infrastructural distribution is both a democratic necessity and a sound economic policy.

“The principles of democracy demand a fair allocation of infrastructural projects across Nigeria’s regions,” he stated. “Positioning a seaport nearer to the primary drivers of international trade makes business sense. The continued concentration of port activity in Lagos is not only inefficient but smacks of favoritism.”

He further urged the Tinubu administration to engage maritime experts and begin detailed consultations toward developing a blueprint for a Southeast seaport.

Calling for unity among Southeastern unions and interest groups, Ellis-Ezenekwe emphasized that sustained advocacy could help address the longstanding perception of marginalization within the region.

“It is both a moral obligation and an economic imperative to recognize the Southeast and its people as equal stakeholders in the Nigerian project,” he added. “Establishing a seaport in the Southeast would significantly reduce secessionist sentiments by promoting inclusion and economic equity.