The Igbo Community Association (ICA) in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has implored the Federal Government to establish seaports in the South East to boost trade in the region.
Its President General, Ikenna Ellis-Ezenekwe, in a statement yesterday, decried the continued absence of a functional seaport in the South East, describing it as an enduring economic injustice that has stifled business growth, inflated costs, and subjected millions of hardworking traders and entrepreneurs to undue hardship.
He lamented the exclusion of the region from Nigeria’s maritime infrastructure, arguing that this deliberate oversight has placed an unfair economic stranglehold on Igbo business owners, forcing them to endure the chaotic congestion and exploitative conditions at Lagos ports.
Also, he noted that despite being one of Nigeria’s most commercially vibrant regions, the South East remains without a single operational seaport, while other zones enjoy multiple maritime facilities.
He recalled that Nigeria currently has six officially recognized seaports under the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), including the Lagos Port Complex (Apapa), Tin Can Island Port, Rivers Port Complex, Onne Port Complex, Delta Port Complex, and Calabar Port.
He, however, emphasized that only two of these ports —both located in Lagos—are fully operational, thereby exacerbating logistical challenges for South East importers who must endure exploitative levies, excessive delays, and multiple extortions while transporting goods from Lagos to the region.
He insisted that this economic imbalance was neither incidental nor justifiable but a calculated attempt to undermine the economic advancement of the South East.
Meanwhile, he applauded the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, “for his relentless and strategic efforts in advancing the establishment of the South East Development Commission (SEDC).”
While acknowledging this historic legislative victory, he urged Kalu to take a further bold step by championing the long-overdue establishment of a seaport in the South East —an infrastructural necessity that has been unjustly denied to the region despite its immense contributions to Nigeria’s economy.
“The Igbo Community in Abuja has great confidence in the capabilities of our Deputy Speaker. We are proud to have him representing the nation in such a critical capacity. He has done remarkably well and understands the intricacies of legislative processes.
“We appeal to him to revisit the issue of seaports, as their establishment would significantly enhance economic activities not just for the South East, but for the entire nation.
“With the successful establishment of the SEDC, securing a seaport for the South East should be the next milestone. It will stand as another historic achievement. And the time is now,” he concluded.
