Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, has called on the Federal Government to decentralize Nigeria’s seaports to boost trade, create jobs, and promote equitable economic development.
Reacting to the recent ₦1.5 trillion approval for the modernisation of Apapa and Tin Can Ports in Lagos, Obi said the continued concentration of port operations in Lagos contradicts global best practices.
In a statement titled “The Imperative of Diversifying Port Development in Nigeria” on his X handle, the former Anambra State governor argued that countries with multiple functional ports such as Vietnam, Indonesia, Ghana, and South Africa, enjoy broader economic gains through decentralized maritime operations.
He urged the government to invest in other strategic ports like Warri, Port Harcourt, Calabar, and Onne, stressing that balanced port development would expand trade corridors and reduce poverty nationwide.
Obi added that Nigeria must rebuild with fairness, equity, and transparency to transition from a consumption-based to a production-driven economy.
“A New Nigeria is Possible,” he reaffirmed.
