Peter Obi, former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, has called on the federal government to decentralise port development in Nigeria, saying the country’s maritime infrastructure is excessively concentrated in Lagos to the detriment of other regions.
In a statement posted on X on Thursday, Obi said while the recent approval of $1 billion (₦1.5 trillion) for the modernisation of the Apapa and TinCan Island ports was commendable, the move again highlighted the government’s tendency to channel major infrastructure projects to Lagos.
He said the concentration of port development in Lagos undermines national productivity and leaves other strategic ports, including Warri, Port Harcourt, Calabar, and Onne, underutilised.
His words: “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.
“If fully developed, these ports could enhance productivity, drive trade, create jobs, and open new economic corridors that would lift millions out of poverty across the federation.”
He cited several countries, including Vietnam, Indonesia, South Africa, Egypt, Morocco, Algeria, and Ghana, as examples of nations that have decentralised port development and are reaping economic benefits.
“These nations have grasped a simple truth: no country seeking to maximise its blue economy concentrates all maritime activities in a single city,” he said.
Obi explained that decentralisation reduces congestion, improves logistics, enhances national security, and promotes balanced economic growth.
“In Nigeria, however, more than 70 per cent of port activities are still concentrated in Lagos, burdening the city with chronic congestion, high demurrage costs, environmental degradation, and delays that discourage investors and inflate the cost of goods nationwide,” he said.
The former Anambra governor described the development of other ports as “not merely an infrastructural necessity but a national imperative”.
He said reviving ports in the Niger Delta and other coastal regions would decongest Lagos, lower shipping costs, attract investment, create jobs, and stimulate regional economies.
“As one who understands the critical link between infrastructure, trade, and national growth, I believe that a truly national blue economy must carry every region along,” Obi said.
He urged the government to complement infrastructure development with reforms that tackle corruption, streamline bureaucracy, and promote technology-driven port operations.
“Beyond physical infrastructure, reform must also address corruption, reduce bureaucracy, and embrace technology to create a seamless, paperless port system that enhances turnaround time and global competitiveness,” he said.
He added that if well managed, the Lagos port modernisation project could serve as a model for wider maritime transformation across the country.
“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,” Obi concluded.